High School

What is used to prevent large-scale clay figures from sagging?

A. Armature
B. Easel
C. Palette
D. Kiln

Answer :

To prevent sagging in large-scale clay sculptures, an armature is utilized as a supportive framework. It provides the necessary stability to wet clay, allowing sculptors to shape and build up their work before firing it in a kiln for hardening. The correct answer is a) Armature.

To prevent large-scale clay figures from sagging, an armature is used. This is a rigid internal support, often made of wire, that allows soft or fluid materials like wet clay to maintain their shape and height as they are built up. The armature is essential because wet clay can be very fragile and would collapse under its weight without this support structure. When creating classical portrait sculpture in terra cotta or other types of clay sculpture, sculptors rely on an armature to keep the form stable until it can be fired in a kiln, which hardens the clay and finalizes the shape. Clay is a popular medium for sculpting because it is pliable and can be modeled, carved, and cast into various forms. After the initial shaping and construction with an armature, the clay sculpture is left to dry before being fired, a crucial step in ensuring its durability and permanence. The correct answer is a) Armature.