The word ‘Museum’ turns most of us off. But not when our favorite celebrities are standing tall in front of our eyes. Not in real, but the life sized Wax figures. Madam Tussauds located on the Marylebone Road, London, is the most astonishing work by any sculpture artist. Months of hard work, hundreds of measurements and a strenuous process lead to a stunning piece of statue of the most called for celebrities through out the world. Madam Tussauds started way back in the 18th century, when Marie Tussaud created her first Wax figure of François-Marie Arouet better known as Voltaire, the famous French writer, essayist and philosopher. She took over Dr. Philippe Curtius’s wax models after his death, who was a physician skilled in wax modeling, under whom her mother worked as a house keeper. Madam Tussauds was originally from Paris, and did most of her research and study by travelling across the Europe. She later moved to London after the franco-english war. And the rest is history. Since then ‘Madam Tussauds’ is the most renowned name in the whole world.

Madame Tussauds London

Tussauds has branches in many major cities across the world and is open for visitors from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM on weekdays and from 10:00 AM till 10:00 PM on the weekends. The entry fee ranges from $28 to $35

‘Madam Tussauds’ is now owned by the second biggest leisure group in the world called The Merlin Entertainments. Tussauds now has wax figures of some famous celebrities of different walks of life, ranging from Film stars, sports stars, musicians, scientists, royal figures, models and some famous murderers as well.

Shahrukh Khan at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

Tussauds has the most extensive and complex process of making a wax figure. Artists working with Tussauds work for months on one figure to make the figure look exactly the same. It starts from many long sittings with the subject. Artists take more than 250 measurements and takes pictures of the subject from different angles. A lot of research is also put in on the costume design and most importantly the hair style. Hair becomes the most difficult part to deal with, firstly the color of the hair are matched from more than 100 different sample of hair then thickness, texture, hair line, parting, and growth pattern are looked upon as well. Further skin tone, lip color, around the eyes color, color of hands and other body parts are matched by mixing paints. Then eyes samples are matched with the subject’s eyes. Color of teeth, their shape and size is also taken care of. Then special body art of the subject are considered like Tattoos, piercings etc. Another important aspect of this process is the understanding of the subject’s personality. Artists make sure the wax figure captures exactly the part of the character the subject wants to portray.

Brad Pitt and Anjelina Jolie at Wax Museum

After the long process of measurements, sittings and research, then comes the turn of actual molding of the model. It is important for the artists to understand how the subject looks from each angle; artists are surrounded by their pictures capturing different parts of the body and face to make them identify with the posture of the subject. The artists make the clay model of the body parts using the measurements and the photos. Moulds of head and the body are made separately. Hot wax is then poured over the model. After the model is ready, its time for the makeup, costume and hair. Again hair takes most of the time here as well. Each strand of hair is inserted into the wax model separately. This takes weeks to do. Then teeth and eyes are fixed carefully. Many layers of oil paint are then used to give the model the exact shade as of the subject. Finally after months of labor and detailed work, the wax figure is then displayed at the Madam Tussauds.

Making of Wax Figures

Tussauds not always works for the celebrities. Anyone can have a wax figure of their own, Unless they pay £150,000. Although the figure will not be displayed at the museum. But it’s always worth it to see your life sized figure right in front of your eyes.

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