






Photography by Laurence Galloway
Restoration of two broken gilt frames.
Process: The bottom of these mirrors had been cut off by the previous owner to use as overmantle frames. First step for me was to design a few new designs in photoshop for my client to choose the one he liked. The simpler Number 1. was chosen and so I went to work. Moulding, casting in gilders compo, a traditional recipe. Then tacking and gluing back the original wooden carvings and clamping till dry. Painting with yellow then red bole and gilding then toning. A delightful project from beginning to end.
Before: The broken mirror
The bottom had been cut off to use as an overmantle mirror.
Designs I made in Photoshop out of pieces from the top of the frame I knew I can use for moulding.
gluing and clamping

Moulding

The Mould

Casting the compo

trimming the compo
Placing the compo designs
after a lot of sanding and carving the compo to get the right shape, I laid gesso then bole.

After gilding and some toning to match, it is finished.
