1:35 Lavička

A bench as a pause in a scene

Among accessories most things tend to be work-related: crates, containers, tools. A bench is the exception, because its purpose is rest. In a scene it therefore works differently from other equipment. It creates a place where nothing is happening, and in doing so it emphasizes everything else around it. A group of figures with one of them sitting immediately gains a rhythm that standing figures do not have on their own.

Four parts, one assembly

The package contains four resin parts. The make-up matches the shape of the real thing: separate end frames and the slatted surfaces of the seat and the back. It is exactly that division which allows the slats to be cast with sharp edges and the end frames with a shaped profile, which would not be possible in one piece. When gluing, watch above all that both end frames stand parallel; the surest way is to glue the whole on a glass plate, where any deviation from flat shows at once.

Wood and metal in one object

A classic park bench combines cast iron or steel end frames with wooden slats, so on one small object you can try two different surfaces side by side. The slats will take glazing and bare wood in the places where the finish has been worn away by sitting. The metal parts, by contrast, owe their result to a dark base and fine light edges. Dust and fallen leaves at the feet will do the rest of the work and settle the bench into its setting.

Where to place it

A proven place is off to the side of the main action, so that the bench forms a counterweight to what is happening elsewhere. Against a wall it looks more natural than in the middle of an open area, and it looks even better partly hidden by a bush, a railing or a piece of luggage set down. A damaged piece can be used just as well: a missing slat or a bent end frame will say more about a neglected space than cracked plaster behind it.