CLAY MASTER FOR
SHOE DOLL'S HOUSE
SHOE DOLL'S HOUSE
Before being handed over to the client
for final furnishing
To
First page of Clay Sculptures |
CLAY MASTER FOR
SHOE DOLL'S HOUSE |
| This commission came from the Health Promotion Manager of the local Government Health Trust. Among other things this lady's job is to make the public aware of safety in the home. There are a great many accidents in domestic situations and these happen particularly to the under fives and the elderly. My brief was to build a "shoe" doll's house in the manner of "The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe" nursery rhyme. This would then be fitted out with furniture and liberally spread with "accidents waiting to happen"- the unguarded fire, the child's ball left at the bottom of the stairs,etc. The doll's house would then be taken to exhibitions, old people's homes, lectures and schools for visitors to list (and become aware of) the accidents. So my "Shoe" had to be robust, as large as possible, and yet fit into the back of a car. We chose the standard 1/12th scale so that propriety doll's house furniture would fit. | |
| Once the size, and the layout of the rooms, was established, the main task was to build a clay master. | |
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| I used an old running shoe as a model. This clay master was approximately 3' 6" high and 4'6" long. It took about two weeks to make and although hollow inside was very heavy. It took four men to lift it onto the lorry where it was taken to a Fibre Glass company near Londonderry. Using this clay master they then moulded a fibre glass version. Once returned to me, I put in the floors and some of the fittings - staircases, fireplace and so on. I also made a wooden roof to fit over the two protruding triangles. Oh yes and I also added a set of blue rope shoe laces. The shoe was then handed over to the Health Promotion Manager who completed installing the furniture, bath, tables, chairs etc (A task I suspect she secretly enjoyed) and of course she also put in the potential safety hazards. | |
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Before being handed over to the client
for final furnishing
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| To
First page of Clay Sculptures |
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