surmoulage means the fraudulent practice of taking a casting directly from a sculpture rather than from the artist's original. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 82 out of 100.
Why “surmoulage” is a great word
SURMOULAGE — [Noun] The fraudulent practice of creating a sculpture by casting directly from an existing sculpture rather than from the artist's original model. Borrowed from French surmoulage, from sur- ("over, upon") + moulage ("molding, casting"). Unlike a "reproduction" (which may be authorized and legitimate) or an "original" (the unique work from the artist's hand), surmoulage is a parasitic act of replication, a copy of a copy. It is the faint, blurred line where a bronze god's musculature should be sharp; it is the subtle seam hidden in the hollow of a nymph's knee; it is the ghost of true form, captured once more and growing fainter with each generation—a testament to the enduring market for authenticity, and the slow decay that attends any attempt to steal it.
Etymology
Borrowed from French surmoulage.
noun
- The fraudulent practice of taking a casting directly from a sculpture rather than from the artist's original.