Plastiline

Description

1) A waxy mixture used for castings and modeling sculptures. Plastiline becomes pliable when warmed (50 C) then hardens on cooling. Some formulations for plastiline included wax mixed with starch. Edgar Degas used plastiline for many of his sculptures.

2) Another name for 'Plasticine', a putty composed of vulcanized linseed oil mixed with a white pigment. The name is also used for many types of non-hardening modeling clays, such as Plasticine®, Klean Klay, FIMO®, and Farcolina.

Synonyms and Related Terms

plasticine; plastilina (Esp.); plastilina (It); French modeling wax; modeling clay

Risks

• Some commercial products may contain corrosive sulfur components.
• Oily components may migrate into porous substrates.

Resources and Citations

• G. Eggert. 2006. Plastiline: Another Unsuspected Danger. VDR-Beiträge 2/2006, pages 112-116 (see Comparisons page to download article)

• Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)

• Tom Rowland, Noel Riley, A-Z Guide to Cleaning, Conserving and Repairing Antiques, Constable and Co., Ltd., London, 1981

• Ceramics and Glass Conservation Section, List of Workshop Materials, The British Museum, London