What process is associated with lost wax casting?

Lost wax casting is a meticulous process used primarily for creating metal sculptures and objects. In this technique, an artist first creates a model of the desired object using a material like wax. The wax model is then encased in a mold, typically made from a heat-resistant material. Once the mold is complete, it is heated, causing the wax to melt and drain away, leaving a cavity in the exact shape of the original model. Molten metal is then poured into this cavity, filling it to create an exact replica of the original wax model. This method allows for precise details and textures to be captured in the final metal sculpture, making it highly effective for achieving detailed and accurate reproductions of the artist's original design.

The other options involve techniques that do not apply to the lost wax casting process. For instance, creating hollow wooden sculptures does not involve metal casting, and neither does it use wax. Engraving designs onto metal pertains to surface design rather than the casting process, while firing clay at high temperatures relates to ceramic art, which is distinct from metal casting activities.