Has anyone here ever made or collected "life masks?"

[Cooley Hurd]

I've decided to start collecting celebrity "life masks," after seeing some on eBay yesterday (for those unfamiliar with them, life masks are replicas of one's face, made by making a mold of a face by applying plaster of paris, removing it and then pouring plaster, plastic or bronze into the mold). I bought three yesterday:


Marlon Brando (cast in the 1970's)


Robert DeNiro (cast in the early 1990's)


Buster Keaton (cast in the 1960's)

Surprisingly, they weren't very expensive at all...

Anyhow, I've decided to try to make one of myself. Has anyone here ever done this before? Is it hard to do? Any tips on how to do it or what to use for mold material?

[BiggJawn]

1. Grease your face with Vaseline.

Straws up your nose to breathe. I think you would need help to do it, can't see how you could do it yourself. Use plaster.
I'm sure somebody has a web page someplace on how to do it. Hell, if I can find info on how to debride a wound gone bad, I'm sure you can find out how to mould.

[Cooley Hurd]

2. I would definitely want help on it...

Could you imagine if you screwed it up somehow and couldn't get it off? Driving to the ER with all that crap on your face would be dangerous... :o

I did find a few sites on the internet, but I'd like to hear from someone with first-hand experience. The sites gave different options on lubricant, mold material, technique. Also, I'm curious if collecting them is a popular hobby, or an I a weirdo for wanting to do so... :freak:

[Dirty Hippie]

3. I remember from High School

that the plaster gets hot. Not enough to burn but it was uncomfortable. My ceramics instructor cast my face.

[Cooley Hurd]

4. I don't think you're supposed to stick your head in a kiln...

Yowch! }(

[Cooley Hurd]

5. Kick for the late risers...

I'm still curious about the process (or about collecting).