plasticine

Plasticine is a non-drying, oil-based modeling clay used for sculpture, maquettes, and educational purposes. It typically contains waxes and oils with pigments, producing a soft, pliable material that remains workable after shaping. Unlike water- or air-drying clays, Plasticine does not cure or harden permanently, allowing pieces to be reused and reworked indefinitely.

The material was invented by William Harbutt, a British art teacher, in 1897. It was marketed as a clean, non-drying alternative to traditional clays and quickly found use in schools, studios, and later in animation and stop-motion filmmaking. The name Plasticine is also used generically for similar oil-based clays produced by various brands around the world.

In terms of properties, Plasticine is typically non-toxic and not edible, though it should not be ingested. It is temperature sensitive, becoming softer in heat and firmer in cold. With proper storage, most formulations maintain their pliability and do not dry out, though long-term exposure to air or contamination can affect texture.

Common uses include preliminary sculpture, material maquettes for larger works, character models in animation, and educational activities to teach form, color, and texture. Related materials include plastilina in several languages and other oil-based clays; polymer clays, which require baking, and air-dry clays are distinct categories.