Thomas Crawford, an American Sculptor, created the full-size figure of Freedom in clay. Molds were made, from which a full-size positive plaster model was cast in five main sections. This model is on view today in the basement rotunda of the Russell Senate Office Building. Clark Mills was a self-taught American sculptor with experience in casting large bronze sculptures. Mills was hired to cast the Statue of Freedom at his foundry a few miles from the Capitol. The government agreed to rent his foundry and to purchase all necessary materials, including 15,000 pounds of copper, 1,500 pounds of tin, and 200 pounds of zinc. Lead was also added to the molten amalgam, which is called bronze. Like all large bronze statues, Freedom is a hollow form, which minimizes weight and cost. The complicated sand-casting method used by Mills is discussed in this article.