Lead soldiers as painted objects.

As a young paperboy i noticed a store-front that a retired dentist had turned into a studio for the manufacturing of lead soldiers. i peered through the frosted plate windows and hung around the doorway until the man finally let me in to watch.

He started with wire armatures which he coated which wax, and into which he carved the details of the figure. From these wax models he then made latex molds. Into these molds he poured molten lead. He then painted these grey cast figures with brilliant enamel paints. To my young eyes these were the most beautiful icons i'd ever seen. Lining the shelves of this dusty little wooden room were true art objects, all in bright shining color marching into glory right across the street from the boring grey grammar school i dreaded.