Myth and Magic studies go through a number of process from design to manufacture. The best quality materials and highest levels of design and imagination combine to make Myth and Magic one of the leading manufacturers of fantasy and mythical figurines

Design of Myth and Magic

"Myth and Magic" is the brainchild of Graham Hughes, President of Tudor Mint Ltd. Graham briefed his chief designer, Sharon Riley, to "submit drawings of a collection of dragons, wizards, castles and mythical creatures, to be manufactured incorporating crystals". Thus, the "Myth and Magic" collection was born. The designers work together, exchanging ideas and commenting on each other's work, which helps to retain a consistency of design for the recurring characters of the collection. A study starts life as a drawing by one of the designers. "Myth and Magic" collectibles are called studies, not figurines. Usually design comes first and a name is chosen later. The design must be practical as well as aesthetic in order to avoid model and production difficulties. After a completed design is approved, a model is sculpted. Then the model makers transform a two-dimensional study into a three dimensional figurine, to the exact scale of the design drawing. Their raw materials are metal and Milliput, a resin similar in texture to putty or clay which hardens rapidly (2-3 hours) at room temperature. The studies are usually sculpted in more than one section, for assembly at a later stage. The average standard sized study has 3 sections.

Manufacture of Myth and Magic

A master mold is created by placing the original sculpted pieces between two rubber discs, which are then placed in a metal container to form a 'pack'. The pack is 'cured' in a press at high temperature and under great pressure. When this is done, the two parts of the mold are separated and the original pieces are removed. Several copies of the prototype pieces are made (called multis) and from these, production molds can be produced. The model is now ready to go to production. Molten white metal is poured into the spinning molds. The two part mold is cast, trimmed and, if necessary, the individual castings are then soldered together to create the completed study. Although solderers are given precise instructions on how to assemble the figurines, slight variations do occur - the position of a hand, for example - which explains minor differences between the studies when they appear in shops. The assembled studies are then given a coating of copper, nickel and finally silver which makes them shine brilliantly. To achieve the darkened 'antique' look, they are oxidized by dipping them in a sulphur-based chemical which turns them black. They are 'relieved' or 'burnished' by buffing. As the 'relieving' is done by hand, no two studies will ever be identical. After 'relieving', the studies are dipped in a lacquer solution to prevent the silver plate from tarnishing. The crystals are now glued into place - by hand - on the tiny platforms sculpted specifically for this purpose. The unicorns' horns are also glued into place at this stage. If it is a new study, it must first survive The Drop Test! The study is boxed and shrink wrapped then dropped from shoulder height onto each face and corner. Only when it has successfully passed this final test is it ready for shipping.