Visit to the art foundryman from Höhenrain

Created: 03/12/2022, 13:01

By: Laura Forster

Working with liquid bronze is not without danger.

However, Marc-Andreas Hofmeister (left) has sufficient experience as an art caster at the age of 31.

His two employees help him with every cast.

© Dagmar Rutt

A work of art by Marc-Andreas Hofmeister goes through several complex steps from the wax model to the patina.

It takes three to four weeks before a customer can pick up his bronze object.

Visit to one of the last art foundries in Bavaria.

Höhenrain – Marc-Andreas Hofmeister puts on safety goggles, picks up the frame that holds the crucible in which the 1200 degree Celsius liquid bronze is bubbling and begins to pour the luminous liquid into the small round openings in the fireclay blocks .

Two of his seven employees assist the experienced caster in the process.

According to the 54-year-old, the work is not without risk.

"You have to be careful." Special clothing and precautionary measures are therefore a must during watering.

Hofmeister has been running the art foundry in Höhenrain for 31 years now – one of the last in Bavaria.

Even his grandfather and great-grandfather practiced the craft.

He himself learned from Hans Mayr at Gollierplatz in Munich.

Today he passes on his knowledge to employees, trainees and interns.

One day his eleven-year-old son Adrian is to take over the foundry.

"He's interested in the work," says the father proudly.

An important basic requirement, because the work as an art and bell foundry is often complicated, detailed and challenging.

Art caster Marc-Andreas Hofmeister has a personal relationship with many customers

Sculptors, museums and restorers from the Free State, but also from the Palatinate or Bremen bring their works, mostly made of plaster or clay, to Lake Starnberg so that they can be turned into bronze sculptures.

“I have a personal relationship with many customers.

It's like at the hairdresser's, you go to someone you trust."

Before the 54-year-old can start casting, a few preparatory steps have to be taken.

First, Hofmeister creates a silicone negative mold of the artwork, which he can use to recreate a wax positive that is identical to the original.

The art caster dips the wax model, which is provided with casting and air channels, into a fireclay mass consisting of bricks, plaster and water.

After a quarter of an hour the block is hard and is carried from the workshop to the neighboring foundry.

"The mass stays in here for a week," says Hofmeister, pointing to a drying oven that is around three meters high and two meters wide and has a temperature of 700 degrees.

During this time, the wax melts and burns.

As soon as the fireclay block has cooled down, the caster begins the main work.

“We water every seven days.

Many small steps to the finished bronze figure.

Intern Thao Nhi Pham improves the wax pattern.

© Dagmar Rutt

The bronze blocks that Hofmeister buys from a steel works in Ulm are melted underground in what is known as a drum furnace.

When the alloy is red hot and liquid, the Höhenrainer pours the bronze into the openings of the hard blocks.

After four to five hours the metal has solidified.

"Then we can begin to carefully break up the fireclay mass." The sculpture is then given the finishing touches by a chaser.

It is patinated, matted, roughened or polished - depending on the customer's wishes.

"In total, the process takes up to four weeks."

Close cooperation with customers is important

Close cooperation with his client is particularly important to the art foundryman.

"If I presented the sculptors with a fait accompli, it probably wouldn't end well," says Hofmeister and laughs.

Therefore, the artists are involved at every step and can participate in the work themselves.

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Despite his decades of experience, the art caster leaves the creative work to the professionals.

However, Hofmeister exhibited some of the works created in Höhenrain in his gallery on Promenadeplatz in Munich.

“I also sell some works there,” he says.

The art foundry also offers courses or excursions for schools and clubs.

Marc-Andreas Hofmeister can be reached at z (0 81 71) 2 23 32 or info@kunstguss.net.

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