SEALING WAX

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 33, 2 May 1927, Page 12

SEALING WAX

ITS VARIOUS USES ARTISTIC EMPLOYMENT wax is Perhaps less important than it was before mucilaged envelopes came into use, but never wls sealing wax so versatile as now "or so useful artistically (says an American writer). Many a delicate decorative object that appears to be enamel " are °f, Carved and painted woorf or coloured glass turns out to be merely hC,CC Gd S eali "ff Wax ' Pendants and beads and artificial flowers, plaques and vases and candlesticks are among the objects beholden for their beauty notC? “atenal. Moulding it, manv an untrained woman has done something in home craftsmanship. & A lump of sealing wax on the end of a steel knitting needle melted over a flame and cooled in a glass of water, shaped with a moulder and decorated by melting in other colours becomes a handsome bead. A metalrimmed pasteboard tag covered with wf,h m ?lC,;'! eal C S wax and embellished with drops of wax, shaped when sofmto bunches of grapes or flowers becomes a “drop” to finish the necklace. Earrings and pins and hat ornanients are made in the same way. Sealing wax melted in denatured alcohol or merely heated transforms scarves and pocketbooks, place cards and waste paper baskets. An old vase with good lines but undesirable colouring comes out in unrecognisable glory and an old lampshade takes on a new look.

Fatterns are not drawn. Figures cut from fancy papers and pasted on the object supply them. Then transparent amber sealing wax is spread, and the figures show through. Or else the figures are piled up in relief on top of the paper design, following its lines Paper flowers are coated with sealing wax to make handsomer, more durable blossoms, or clusters are given a crystal effect.

Part of the news on this page appeared in the Late Edition of THE SUN on Saturday.