sand casting


Paul Cavanagh and Khun Nok

Approximately 10 years ago when Paul Cavanagh and his partners relocated their Thai art foundry to Ayutthaya, Thailand, he first met Suparat Wanicha (Khun Nok). Khun Nok brought his own sculpture work to the foundry to be cast in bronze. Over time, Cavanagh came to realize that Nok is a very talented Thai sculptor who also has a very skilled team of workers. These employees are not only well versed in bronze sculpture but also know all the technical requirements of producing sculpture models.

Paul Cavanagh readily uses Khun Nok and his team’s services to produce models and enlargements for The Paul King Foundry. He will be presented with a small model and Nok then produces a full sized model. This full sized model is usually many times larger than the original and can be made in any requested material: plaster, wax, plastilene, water clay – whatever the sculptor client requests. When the sculptor is finished working on the full scale model, negative molds are made and a hard model is produced for sand casting or a rubber mold is made if the lost wax process is to be used. This relationship works very well because of Khun Nok’s knowledge and skill. The Paul King Foundry is able to use the process for many clients.

The Paul King Foundry works with Robert Shure from Skylight Studios in Boston who designed and made small models of memorials for Matthews Corporation. The Paul King Foundry then produced many large monuments in Thailand for Matthews Corporation and they were placed in many locations throughout the US and Canada. Additionally, the Paul King Foundry and Skylight Studios worked with a local RI businessman who lost his son at a very young age. The businessman wanted a bronze memorial made for his child. Shure made a small model for the family based on another memorial that had originally been made in Italy. Nok made a beautiful and faithful enlargement of Robert Shure’s model.

Khun Nok also worked directly with Boston sculptor Laura Baring-Gould and assisted her in making the enlargement of her Boston monument. Nok also helped her solve some technical issues as well. He was involved with the enlargement of a large bronze figure for an architect from CT which ultimately became part of the structure of a building in CT. Khun Nok worked with Karen Petersen from VT, Chinese/Canadian sculptor Chong Fa Chong, Kumari Nahappan from Singapore – making enlargements and molds for them. Nok is skilled at mold-making and is a specialist in enlarging. Nok is involved with numerous enlargements of monumental sized Buddha of up to 300 feet.

Khun Nok (far right) and Paul Cavanagh (near left) visit a newly installed Buddha monument with two people from Jiangxi Metal Craft

Khun Nok (far right) and Paul Cavanagh (near left) visit a newly installed Buddha monument with two people from Jiangxi Metal Craft

Khun Nok has also become a specialist in fine finishing. He spent a month visiting the Paul King Foundry five years ago. Nok insisted on spending all of his time in the fine finishing department at the foundry in Johnston, RI and learning from our experts during that time. Khun Nok studied formally at The Art Institute of Chang Rai, Thailand. Nok works very closely with National Thai Treasure Artist Professor Nantiwat of Silapakorn University who studied with Henry Moore. Khun Nok is bilingual in Thai and English while also speaking Mandarin (Chinese).

Paul Cavanagh and Khun Nok are currently working together on projects in China and Thailand. They are also involved with some public art projects in China. Nok is also the technical manager for quality control when Paul Cavanagh is not at the foundry in Nanchang, China.

For more information about our Asian affiliate please visit our sister site Sculpture Source Asia.

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Asian Foundry Sculpture Alliance: Sculpture Source Asia & Paul King Foundry

Our ties in Asia are over 20 years strong. During this time, we have been building relationships in Thailand and China to offer secure environments for our customers. Our Asian Foundry Sculpture Alliance has a proven track record of quality and client satisfaction.

Do You Maintain International Foundry Standards?

Yes. Sculpture Source Asia and the Paul King Foundry maintain high integrity and ethics while following the international standards of sculptors. We respect every component part of the model and all of the surfaces of the sculpture from the smallest to the largest.

How Costly?

Conscience of the concept of economy and quantity, we want our clients to receive the best price for their works. Our international relationships can afford us the opportunity to always negotiate for you the best price at the highest quality standards. Our Asian Foundry Sculpture Alliance has produced many small to monumental scale bronze sculptures and we are particularly proud of our experience with public sculptures worldwide.

What are Your Services?

Because of the technology available to us in our foundry in China, we can produce some of the largest high quality castings in the world. Our services include mold-making, enlarging, computer prototyping, fine finishing & patinas for sculptures up to 150 feet in height or more. In Thailand, one of those is the 40 meter (130+ feet) tall Ganesh Buddha in Chachoengsao. 

The Paul King Foundry is focused on cost, quality and customer service. Our commitment to providing high quality castings, exquisite finishes, museum quality patinas and professional installations along with excellence in customer service at the lowest possible cost continues to bring us new customers. The foundry not only casts in bronze, aluminum and all other non-ferrous metals and materials, it also employs sand-casting and ceramic shell techniques.

Clients interested in finding out more about our foundries may contact: Michelle Cavanagh, Business Manager (401) 300.8431 – or eMail

You can also visit our Asian Alliance website: www.SculptureSourceAsia.com