A unique artwork based upon the Hampton Court Cherubs

Wood Carving London was recently approached by the clerk at the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace to create a unique sculptural artwork as a retirement gift for their long standing Director of Music. The concept was to replicate some of the renowned wood carvings within the chapel, attributed to the workshop of Grinling Gibbons in the early sixteenth century.

While discussing the scope of the project during our initial visit to the chapel, we settled upon a composition of a pair of cherubs, as can be seen within the broken pediment of the chapel reredos, designed by Sir Christopher Wren.

We also proposed the option of non-intrusive 3D scanning of the original carvings, with which we could print and construct our maquette before reproducing in limewood. Without access to the specific cherubs of the reredos, we opted to scan the oak carvings of the organ case, which we were able to study in detail at head height on the balcony. In reality, this was more appropriate given the close relationship our recipient had with these particular cherubs, watching him begin his career on that organ stool almost thirty years ago.

Returning to the chapel with a colleague at Artscan3D, we took multiple renderings of the carvings with a stunning level of detail. Isolating the heads from the rest of the structure, it was possible to scale them down to our desired size before printing in resin.

The objects that we received needed some additional alterations, but felt too precious to cut into, so we made two-part silicone molds before casting in Jesmonite.

With the more functional casts, we began forming our composition, sculpting the wings in clay, springing outwards from behind the positioned heads. While trying to reflect the proportions and overall impression of the reredos pair, this piece was to be mounted in a domestic setting, seen from a vastly different viewpoint, thus the treatment was unique.

The sculpting of the wings, like much of Gibbons carving, required delicacy as well as drama, tipping the light through a full spectrum of tones and undercutting the feathers so that they float in space. After adding the finer details to only one wing, our maquette had enough detail to proceed with - time for the timber!

We designed the carving to fit within 1.5 inch boards, with some additional blocks laminated on top for the cherubs’ faces. Using a bandsaw to cut out the general outline, roughing out the forms with a large gouge progressed quickly. Working with the maquette and carving both supported at a 45 degree angle on the bench, it was easy to shift between the objects, taking measurements with a rudimentary pointing system and triangulation.

Once the final details were set in, the piece was sealed and protected with a clear wax so that the pale purity of the limewood was displayed, as Gibbons would have wanted.

Wood Carving London was invited to a special evensong service at the chapel, during which the director was blessed for his significant contribution. This preceded a reception upstairs in the grand State Apartments, where the gift was presented among hundreds of passionate colleagues, friends and family.