BUTTER AND MARGERINE CARVINGS

Very often in place of tallow, butter and margarine is used to produce center pieces. Margarine is the preferred medium as it has a higher melting point and is easier to handle than butter. An outline of the sculpture is made out of suitable stiff material such as a wire piece, aluminum foil, and strips of wood. This is called the armature and the butter or margarine is molded around it to give the desired shape. Ideally, the work should be carried out in a cool environment such as an air- conditioned room. The advantage here is that the sculpture can be re done if it does not have the desired effect and re started. Also tallow, butter and margarine sculptures can have a re usable value unlike ice carvings. However, care should be taken to in storing these pieces as they tend to attract dirt and dust which will cling and be difficult to remove without damaging the structure. Very often a protective cling film can be wrapped around the sculptures during storage