Final answer:
Holding a newly molded cast in one's hands during the modeling process is key for shaping the material while its consistency is critical for maintaining the form after firing, a technique mastered by the Nok in creating durable statutes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Keeping a newly molded cast in one's hands allows for the application of personal skill and dexterity in shaping the clay. The modeling process is critical as the malleability of the wet clay makes it easy to shape but also quite fragile.
Attention to the consistency of the clay is essential to ensure that the final statue maintains its form post firing. The Nok civilization, known for their complex figures, mastered this by hand-modeling their sculptures and firing them in a hot kiln to make them durable.