Yes, yes, it may sound like a strange title, but this is the fascinating story of how Alfredo Bueno created a silicone mold for a religious sculpture, no less than 2 meters tall.
Silicone mold for religious sculptures. Replica of a wooden carving of Saint Ignatius Clement, from Villafeliche, Zaragoza.
It was 2003 when Alfredo received a very special commission, one of those that only comes once in a lifetime. They wanted a reproduction of the patron saint of the Zaragoza town of Villafeliche. But the most curious thing was its destination: the replica would be a gift for their sister town in Italy, also called Villafeliche.
With the original model in his workshop—a majestic carved and polychrome wooden figure—Alfredo set to work. First, he created a flexible silicone mold to capture every detail of the saint and another mold for the base. These silicone pieces were reinforced with resin casings to ensure stability, completing the silicone mold for religious sculpture. Then, using laminated polyester resin, he brought the replica to life, which was finally embellished with color polychromy and gold leaf.
This is how a singular commission became a masterpiece, transcending borders and carrying a piece of history and devotion from one town to another. More Stories and… More Silicone Molds.