This is a historical and technical guide to the materials and techniques of European sculpture, based on the collections at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Casting, carving and modelling practices are explored within a historical perspective, from medieval times onwards. Edited by Marjorie Trusted, and with a foreword by Paul Williamson, the book contains a series of chapters by specialist staff at the V&A. Chapter 1 (by Norbert Jopek), looks at working practices of sculptors Chapter 2 (by Alexandra Corney) looks at wax Chapter 3 (by Wendy Fisher) at terracotta Chapter 4 (by Fisher, Melissa Hamnett and Peta Motture) at bronze and lead Chapter 5 (by Lucy Cullen, Fisher, Hamnett and Trusted) at medals and plaquettes Chapter 6 (by Trusted) at marble and stone Chapter 7 (by Fergus Cannan) at alabaster Chapter 8 (by Jopek and Trusted) at ivory and bone Chapter 9 (by Jopek and Sofia Marques) at wood Chapter 10 (by Cullen, Jopek and Trusted) at semi-precious materials Chapter 11 (by Diane Bilbey and Ruth Cribb) at plaster models, plaster casts, electrotypes and fictile ivories, while the final chapter, by Jopek, examines the subject of fakes. Beautiful colour photography highlights the collections and illustrates contemporary workshop practices. This is an essential guide for anyone with an interest in sculpture.