This page contains details of current and recently completed projects

Middle Temple, London.  Restoration of fire damaged Grinling Gibbons Cherubs:

Three Limewood carved overmantles by Grinling Gibbons were damaged after a devastating fire. One in particular (as pictured) suffered the worse affects, it was at the centre of the fire and required extensive conservation repair, this involved removal, careful cleaning, consolidation, and loose fragments reinstated. After which I assessed the areas of missing carving and carved new sections reinstating the composition of the carving. To balance the new with that of the original I coloured the black charred limewood and finished with a limewood grain effect. Upon refixing the carvings will receive a protective coat of wax. The other two carvings require carved repairs only.

The fire damaged cherubs:

New carved section to replace missing piece:

Charred faces filled:

The completed restoration.

Laurence Beckford is a Specialist Member of the Master Carvers Association