Decorative surfaces explained
A note on polychromy and gilding.
A decorative surface may be two or three dimentional and can take many forms. Shown below are some painted, gilded and varnished fairground droppers from a private collection, worked on in a studio. Alternatively many decorative surfaces must be worked on in-situ, such as the gilded angels at Buckfast Abbey shown in this gallery, or painted historical schemes often found in churches historic houses and grottos. Conservation may be required due to discoloured varnish or an old repair that is causing harm. Sometimes consolidation of the substrate may be required to maintain support of the decorative coating, and research is carefully employed to reintroduce sympathetic and desirable painted scheme when required.
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Below are some examples of the types of surfaces we have been fortunate to work on, as sub-contracter to larger conservation firms, in various environments.
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painted gilded varnished metal fairground sign, before treatment

painted gilded varnished metal fairground sign, after treatment

working onsite on polychrome figure at Buckfast Abbey,
for Humphries & Jones

working onsite on a gilded angel at Buckfast Abbey,
for Humphries & Jones
Decorative Surfaces Gallery

Practice for trompe l'oeil style mural painting (Saville Club London) for Huning Decorations

Practice for trompe l'oeil style mural painting (Saville Club London) for Hunning Decorations

Practice for trompe l'oeil style mural painting (Saville Club London) for Huning Decorations

Painted scheme (Delepre Abbey) for Hirst Conservation

private collection

Conservation Cleaning for polycrome surface on wooden shutter (Boconnoc House Private Estate) for Humphries and Jones

Conservation cleaning of applied docorative surface scagliola monument (Hinton St George Church) for Humphries and Jones

Consoidation of urushi lacquer surface in studio (private Collection) for Plowden & Smith

Conservation cleaning of gilded pannel (Marianne North Gallery Kew Garden) for Plowden & Smith

Consolidation of hand made wallpaper (private collection ) for Plowden & Smith

Conservation cleaning for shell aviary (Jordans Grotto, under the care of Historic England ) for Humphries and Jones

Conservation cleaning of shell aviary (Jordans Grotto, under the care of Historic England) for Humphries and Jones

Conservation cleaning of applied docorative surface scagliola monument ( Hinton St George Church) for Humphries and Jones

Conservation of polychrome for carved painted and gilded wooden ceiling boss (Winchester Cathedral) during conservation removal of late and innappropriate paint layer, for McNeilage Conservation

Carved painted and gilded wooden ceiling boss (Winchester Cathedral) after conservation removal of late and innappropriate paint layer, for McNeilage Conservation

Carved painted and gilded wooden ceiling boss (Winchester Cathedral) during conservation removal of late and innappropriate paint layer, for McNeilage conservation

Carved painted and gilded wooden ceiling boss (Winchester Cathedral) during conservation removal of late and innappropriate paint layer, for McNeilage conservation

Application of trompe l'oeil style mural painting (Saville Club London) for Huning Decorations

Applied trompe l'oeil style mural painting, once complete (Saville Club London) for Huning Decorations

Conservation latex poultice cleaning of decorative carved bath stone figurative relief (Buckfast Abbey) for Humphries and Jones

Conservation latex poultice cleaning of decorative carved bath stone figurative relief (Buckfast Abbey) for Humphries and Jones

Conservation latex poultice cleaning of decorative bath stone architectural surface (Buckfast Abbey) for Humphries and Jones

Conservation latex poultice cleaning of bricked facade ceiling vault (Buckfast Abbey) for Humphries and Jones

Gilded frame, during treatment with colleagues (private collection)