The Queens Diamond Jubilee Figurine
Follow the progress of how The Queens Diamond Jubilee Figurine is transformed from a stunning clay sculpture into a fabulous fine bone china collectable limited edition.
The original sculpture
The finished clay model shows the fabulous detail that talented sculptor, Peter Holland has managed to achieve in his Queen Elizabeth diamond jubilee figurine.
The cost of this stunning new royal Diamond Jubilee commemorative, will be £345, plus postage (£6.99 in the UK and £20.50 overseas). She is totally painted by hand by skilled artists in England and will become a lasting tribute to Her Majesty The Queen.
Only 795 figures will ever be produced World-wide. Limited-edition numbers will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. To reserve your Diamond Queen figurine now, either complete the simple form below or click the PayPal button to pay your deposit straight away.
This artist's impression shows an idea of the detail that will be picked out in her Coronation dress. The symbolic embroidery of all the flowers from the four Home Nations and The Commonwealth will be represented in colours to match Norman Hartnell's original design for the dress.
Precious platinum will be used to enhance her jewellery and royal regalia.
Many many hours of painstaking work by Peter Holland were needed to create this level of detail on his tribute to Queen Elizabeth in her Diamond Jubilee year.
Blocking (or mould-making)
Master 'blocker' Mark Thomson assesses the original clay model to decide where it should be cut to make separate moulds of the pieces. This critical stage of the process of turning Peter Hollands original Queen's Diamond Jubilee sculpture into a figurine is very nerve-wracking for both Peter and Mark. A mistake at this point could ruin many months of work.
First to be cut are her arms. They have to be cut with angled incisions that later will help the cast figurine to be assembled in exactly the same position.
Her arms will be stored safely until all the pieces are ready to be moulded.
Her head also has to come off - but it seemed almost a treasonable offence to show this stage!
With the arms out of the way, it is easier to work on the base of the figure to create the 'footring'.
This technical part of the sculpting is always left to the blocker. It ensures that the glaze can be wiped off the very bottom of the figurine and keep it clear of the kiln shelf during firing and so prevent the piece from sticking to it!
*Scroll down below the reservation form to see how we assemble the figurine from all its separate parts* .
Only 795 figures will ever be produced World-wide. Limited-edition numbers will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. To reserve your Diamond Queen figurine now, either complete the simple form below or click the PayPal button to pay your deposit straight away.
Casting and Assembly
Once the original mould (known as a 'block') is completed and dried, it can be used to cast the first trial pieces.
Only three pieces are cast from the block. This is because the liquid bone china clay is very abrasive and it could start to wear down the fine details of the mould. Once the first casts are approved, we make a rubber mould of the block - to preserve the original detail - because it is all we have left of Peter Holland's original sculpture.
These photos show all the separate parts before the Queen's arms are attached.
Her head is added next and finally her foot.
Liquid slip is used as the 'glue' to join the clay pieces together. Much delicate work is needed to clean up the joins and blend the clay so that you see the piece as one complete figure again, just as Peter Holland's original vision.
Using a combination of artists' brushes - both firm sable-haired and soft squirrel-haired brushes to help to blend the joins. A wooden modelling tool is also used to initially blend in the excess clay and later a fine pointed tool to burnish the joint.
The result is a perfect replica of Peter Holland's sculpture - only this time it is hollow and when fired to 1200˚C, will become white and translucent English Fine Bone China.
The rubber 'case' mould is used to make more plaster of Paris 'working' moulds that make the production figurines. When you hear companies talking about 'smashing' the moulds once an edition is finished. It is these working moulds that they mean. Reputable companies make sure that they are replaced after about 25 casts anyway so that the detail is not lost due to the slip wearing the detail away.
Once the figures are fired to the first 'biscuit' stage, they can be glazed which heightens the whiteness of the fine bone china and produced the beautiful lustrous finish that china collectors love. We will show you more stages later so keep coming back to our site to see the continuing progress of our Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee figurine, by Peter Holland.
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Queens Diamond Jubilee figurine
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