Tallow Sculpture Article by BC Karrh

Tallow Sculptures are a traditional food art form that I learned from my grandparents. Some say that these originated in Tallow of Waterford County Ireland, but they have existed for hundreds of years. Egypt, Greece, and Rome used wax to make sacred images or death masks. Using the hard tallow from beef or pork bones, both cheap and easily formed sculptures were fashioned for many purposes.

Because of their concerns with temperature, very few last for more than a few months. On average, a tallow sculpture will last for six months at normal room temperature (62 degrees). Although they can be kept much longer, by sealing them with a food safe varnish and keeping them in a climate controlled environment, below 60 degrees.

A textbook definition of tallow sculpture might be: Wax figures or sculptures normally made of beeswax or tallow, easy to model, cast, and color. Wax has been employed in the cire perdue casting process for sculpture; it is also used in the preparatory stages by sculptors as a sketch or model for the finished work.

Polychrome wax portraits, were popular in Europe throughout the 18th cent; which became popular as wax dolls in the 19th century, and exhibits of wax museum figures, often portraits of notorious people, then followed. The most famous collection of these can be seen in, Madame Tussaud's, London and the Musée Grévin, Paris.

The first known Tallow and Butter Sculptor in the United States was Dairy owner from Minnesota Mrs. Kay Mary Brooks. Her work was exhibited throughout Minnesota and the Northwest. Tallow Sculpture is now coming back in style for many large parties and functions. Chefs throughout the country are creating from the simple to the fantastic in a variety of different flavors, colors and textures.