Britains Plasters | Christie's

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THE CHARLES BIGGS BRITAINS COLLECTION FOREWORD Charles Biggs has enjoyed an association with Britains models for more than forty years and is one of the world's leading experts in the design and production of metal models. In 1947, Charles started his apprenticeship as a hand die-sinker and engraver for Wilmore & Sons, later going to Britains in 1956. The start of his long and illustrious career there coincided with Dennis Britain's crucial purchase of 55 of Herald Miniatures. It also reunited him with Roy Selwyn-Smith after their time together at Wilmore & Sons. He supervised Charles when he began as a plastic die-sinker, working on many classic Herald models. In 1957 Charles helped to formalise the first Britains design department. The ingenious Swoppet range was the first direct result of the new department. He was later rewarded with the position of Chief Designer. Charles and his team began developing product ranges and in 1971 the Deetail range of products were launched. These plastic figures developed with metal bases proved to be a huge success, which convinced the board to allow development of further diecast models. In 1984, Charles was made Director of Design by the new owners, Dobson Park plc, and further diecast releases were made. In 1993 Charles founded 'The Charles Biggs Model Company' while continuing as design consultant during the Britains Ltd hollow-cast centenary celebrations, which he helped to organise. Then he went to the US agents Reeves International's celebration dinner at Valley Forge and gave the keynote speech. Since then he has created thirty-one World War One models in the 'Premier' range and developed a range of metal models exclusively for William Britain. BRITAINS WAX MODELS, METAL MASTERS AND PLASTERS This sale includes an array of original components for the manufacture of Britains figures. It includes several wax models on wire armatures, sculpted by several freelance artists themselves that Britains employed on a regular basis. These range in size from 1/32nd in. = 2½in. high to Britains regular size - 1/32nd in. = 1in. high, making a 6 foot man 2¼in. (54mm.) high. It also includes some 2 x to 1 models 64th scale, these being used to cut steel dies, directly from resin patterns, made from them, on a three-dimensional pantograph engraving machine, at the same time reducing them in size by half to the 1/32 scale required. When a 1/32 wax same size model was used, a plaster waste mould was produced - destroying the wax - to cast lead into. This produced stable, strong originals. These metal models - which are true sculptures in miniature - were exquisitely fettled and chased by the engravers as they added very fine detail and several are included in the sale, concentrating on a wide range of zoo animals. A second plaster 'female' pattern was then produced, cast off the metals in a two-stage process, with all the pouring and exit points cast in, strengthened with coats of shellac and dusted in graphite to ease removal from the casting sand. These plaster patterns - many of which are included in the sale - were then sent to the foundry and cast in bronze. This casting was then fitted together and the engraver would clean the figure cavity and replace any detail lost in the bronze rough sand casting method. The engineers would then fit casting cup/cutters, springs and a pair of tongs to enable a skilled caster to produce a casting every four seconds, depending on size and weight. This method of hollow casting, invented by William Britain Snr, had given the firm a great advantage over its rivals, who were still casting more expensive solid figures. This procedure was not necessary with the more modern pantograph system, used mainly for plastic moulding tooling that had to be of hardened tool steel. The main advantage was that the strong resin patterns made from the twice-size models were a permanent item that could be used over and over again.

Britains Plasters

Details

Britains Plasters
94 Pug, 208 Sarsons Lamb 1932, Terrier and Unsaddled Horse (G, one sd.) (4)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis. Artist's Resale Right ("Droit de Suite"). Artist's Resale Right Regulations 2006 apply to this lot, the buyer agrees to pay us an amount equal to the resale royalty provided for in those Regulations, and we undertake to the buyer to pay such amount to the artist's collection agent.

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