Terracotta Figurines

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Simple enough

Are these those little Terra Cotta Warriors? I did these a couple years ago. I'm not a big fan of the old hot glue gun, but for this job it was just the ticket. The clay is pretty porous so the glue gets a good grip on it. I just popped them in a deep black Larson frame, lined with appropriately colored rag mat. The client didn't want glazing, so it ended up being like a little shelf kind of display rather than a proper shadow box.
 
Thanks Slim Chance

Yes they are the little warriors. I spent a great deal of time in the middle of the night thinking about this and have decided to make a shadow box with the mat corners cut with around 35 degree angles on the top corners which I hope will give a slight slope on the top and sides once I fold the sides up. The bottom will be flat thereby giving a shelf to stand them on. I will probabley use the glue gun as it works great on wooden African figures that I frame in shadow boxes. I just wasn't sure that it would work on the clay. The lady does want it glassed.
I intend to used a dark frame with a mottled silver slip frame to finish it off.

Thanks again for your advice
 
Do these figurines have any collectible value? If so, do not put any kind of glue on them.

If you care to post a photo, I'll bet we can come up with at least three non-adhesive, non-invasive, reversible, inconspicuous ways to mount them.
 
Hi Jim

Thanks for the reply I have been offline for a couple of days due to storms affecting the lines.
No I don't believe that they are collectables and the customer believes that I am going to glue them. I have made the mat as I was planning and finished the box. I have not attached the figures yet as I want to confirm with the lady before finishing the job. However, I would appreciate any other suggestions for mounting before meeting with her.
 
Isn't it great that you in Ohio and you in South Africa are chatting like old friends over coffee about how best to handle this project? The world is indeed a small place these days. I love the Grumble.
 
Hi Shayla
Yes The world is a small place. Before I signed up I followed the grumble for a few months and learned a great deal from the wise folk. The only difficulty I have is the time frame as I am usually ready for bed when the bulk of the Grumblers are on line.
 
GeraldB said:
... However, I would appreciate any other suggestions for mounting before meeting with her.
Click to expand...

OK, without seeing the shapes, here are a few random thoughts:

1. Build a shadowbox that opens/recloses and stand each one on a glass shelf. For example, a Slider or SlipOver frame would involve an inner frame attached to the wall, with shelf to contain the figurines. The outer frame would lift off for easy access. No tools required for access; no latches, hinges, or other visible hardware needed.

2. Thin clear film straps, maybe 1/16" wide; one or more for each figurine. Or strap them using thread of color to match. Perhaps a stand-off spacer may be carved from 1 or 2 layers of foam center board and placed on edge behind each piece.

3. Cut a multi-window mat and build a small box behind each opening to contain each figurine. Hold them in their boxes by covering the back of the window mat with clear film.

4. Build (or contract fabrication of) a snug-fitting glass or clear acrylic box for each figurine, with front left open. Secure the boxes to the backing board by glue, or better, screws behind an opaque backer in each box. Hold the figurines in their boxes by the glazing.

If these figurines have no significant value and you choose to glue them, be sure to use a good glue. A lot of framers just use whatever is handy, and that could be a mistake. If the glue fails to stick to either of the two surfaces, or if one of the surfaces deteriorates/shreds/fails, then the mount would fail. That usually happens upon some kind of impact during handling, or maybe an earthquake. Do you have earthquakes?
 
Jim, I can't believe you left out bent rods! If each of the figurines has a base, I imagine you could fashion some bent rods that would hook over the base and hold each figurine in place.

Now, I don't know if you've ever seen a pickle extractor, but that's what gave me the idea. It's a long tube with a plunger-trigger on one end. When you press the plunger, three bent wires emerge from the other end. You use it to get those pesky last pickles out of the jar! No kitchen should be without.
 
Ya got me there, PaulSF.

OK, please add formed rod mounts to the list of possibilities.
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Pickle extractor? Isn't it interesting how completely unrelated things can lead to innovative framing ideas?
 
Thanks Jim and Paul for the ideas. I particularly like the acryllic boxes. However I spoke to the lady yesterday and she is happy with the sloped box I have made and is also happy for me to glue the pieces. Fortunately we are not in a quake zone and I do a lot of shadow boxes with African figures, masks and animals that are glued in without any side effects.
Incidentally Jim I used your advice to attach a violin I framed, only I used a bronze coloured wire my wife uses in her beading which blended well and is hardly visable. The customer was thrilled with the end result.
 
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