katamochi　型持

KEY WORD :　art history / sculptures

Also okigata 置型.　A device used in metal casting. Often, in metal casting, a double mould was used, consisting of an outer shell and an inner core. The molten metal was poured into the space between the inner core and the outer shell which surrounded it, and so the size of this space determined the thickness of the walls of the cast vessel or statue. The katamochi was a piece of metal inserted between the mould and the shell, securing the distance between them and holding them in place. In the case of Buddhist statues the marks left by the katamochi were filled with molten metal after casting, and gilded. Sometimes a metal nail known as *kougai 笄, which pierces both the inner core and outer mould, was used to serve the same purpose.

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