Preserving our cultural heritage is an endeavor that unites us in a shared commitment to honor the past. Among the many facets of historic preservation, restoring gilded surfaces stands as a crucial component. Every exterior gilding project, whether it involves a dome, a statue, or any other object, adheres to a standardized process. Each step carries immense importance, demanding accuracy and attention to detail. This highly skilled and intricate craft of gilding, performed by experienced artisans who have undergone extensive training, necessitates patience and precision.
A shining example of exemplary gilding work can be found in the heart of San Francisco, where the majestic City Hall dome, shown above, soars to a height of 361 feet, making it the tallest of its kind in the United States. We employed traditional gold leaf and gilding methods to restore the dome to its former glory. Overcoming the challenges posed by extreme weather conditions and a difficult working environment, our team’s craftsmanship revitalized this iconic landmark.
Our team has worked on numerous gilding projects throughout our 45+ years, including regilding the historic dome designed by Charles Bulfinch atop the Connecticut Old State House and restoring the gilding on the dome of the Divinity School at Yale University. Another notable exterior gilding project is the West Virginia State Capitol dome, where our craftspeople removed all coatings on the gilded ornament before applying new coatings and gold leaf. We conducted all work with such precision that we finished in only four months, which was eight months ahead of schedule.
With a deep appreciation for the history and artistry of gilding, we embark on a journey to ensure that these exquisite gilded elements endure for generations to come. By embracing the skills and expertise required for this specialized work, we uphold the highest standards of quality and accuracy, preserving our gilded treasures and perpetuating their timeless beauty. To read more about the art and process of gilding, both interior and exterior, as well as some of our gilding projects, visit the links below.
|
|
|
Latest Articles & Announcements |
|
|
| 6 Steps for Cleaning Historic Fine Artwork |
Historic fine artworks are valuable treasures that have been created by artists over the centuries. However, over time these works of art can become dirty, damaged, or discolored due to exposure to environmental pollutants, natural aging, and mishandling. Therefore, cleaning and restoring historic fine artwork is an essential task to preserve its original beauty and value. This blog takes a look at the six steps required to clean historic fine artwork and ensure that they are protected for years to come.
|
|
|
| The Evolution of the Collegiate Gothic Style |
While most popular in the early 20th century, the origins of the Collegiate Gothic Style can be traced back to the early 1820s. Perhaps the purest examples of this style can be traced to the 1870s and campus additions to Yale, Harvard, Cornell, and Trinity College. These four distinctly different interpretations of a common theme are a beautiful display of how remarkably fast the style has evolved. This recent blog takes a look at some of the most notable collegiate gothic college campus buildings, noting their origins and interpretations of the well-loved architectural style.
|
|
|
|
Come join the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA) New England Chapter and Historic New England in the third installment of the Summer Drawing Tour Through Historic New England. This event will be taking place on Saturday, August 12th at the Hamilton House in South Berwick, Maine in the morning, then at the Langdon House in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for an afternoon session. The Summer Drawing Tour aims to provide participants with the practical knowledge of traditional architecture through sketching historic homes. Participants will learn about the art of observational and analytical drawing while enjoying the scenery at these beautiful historic locations, both managed by Historic New England. This course is offered for AIA Continuing Education credits. To learn more about the Summer Drawing Tour, including how to get tickets for this session, head to the ICAA New England website. We are also a registered provider with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System (AIACES). To learn about our course offerings and how you can earn AIA Continuing Education credits through our courses, visit our course webpage.
|
|
|
|
This month we are celebrating architect Ammi B. Young’s birthday. Young was born on June 19th in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and is best known for his time as the first Supervising Architect of the U.S. Treasury Department. As an architect working for the federal government, Young was tasked with building custom houses, courthouses, post offices, and hospitals across the country. Ammi B. Young designed Independence Hall, seen here, in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1859. Independence Hall has a rich history, as it has served as a central backdrop to significant West Virginia events including pro-union conventions in 1861 and being the site of the first constitutional convention. The building served as a Customs House, Post Office, Court House, and is currently a Cultural Museum. We had the pleasure of serving as the prime specialty contractor and conservator for the restoration of Independence Hall. We researched, defined, and restored the historic decoration in the entrance hall and courtroom. To learn more about our restoration at Independence Hall, head over to our website.
|
|
|
|
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is hosting their 2023 Women’s Leadership Summit this year from September 12th-14th in Boston, Massachusetts. The Women’s Leadership Summit is the premier event brining together women in the architecture, design, and allied building industries. The summit will focus on connecting women with a diverse, supportive community, sharing industry challenges and ways to overcome them, and discussing how women can work to create a better world through architecture. Attendees will have the opportunity to listen in on educational discussions and network with other women in the field. To learn more about this event, including how to register, visit the AIA website, linked here.
|
|
|
|
The League of Historic American Theatres (LHAT) is hosting their 47th National Conference this year on July 16th-19th in Kansas City, Missouri. LHAT’s annual conference is the largest gathering of historic theatre professionals across the U.S. and Canada, and is an excellent opportunity for networking with other professionals in the field. Aside from networking, there will be tools & techniques sessions that cover best practices for historic theatre programming, marketing, operations, fundraising, and more. We are a continued supporter of LHAT and are proud to once again be a sponsor of this conference, and will be attending and taking part in the annual expo. We look forward to seeing everyone this summer and meeting professionals who share a passion for historic theatre restoration. To learn more about the conference, including how to register, head to the conference website linked here.
|
|
|
Interested in seeing more of our work? Follow us on TikTok! |
Have you followed our TikTok yet? Come see our work in motion on our TikTok account. We post new videos every week and feature several of our different trades in action. Follow along at the link below. |
|
|
We understand the importance in sharing our expertise and knowledge in our field. Besides the monthly newsletter and blogs we post, we also develop and share downloadable resources to help guide you in your conservation, preservation and restoration projects. Check out the Resources page and see if any of the resources can help answer some of your questions and provide a better understanding of some of the intricacies in the preservation field.
Check out our Featured Downloadable Resource below.
|
|
|
Whether the exterior element that is to be gilded/regilded is a dome, statue, or other object, the process and steps are basically the same. All steps need to be completed and each step has a high importance of being done correctly. With this month’s discussion of exterior gilding, our featured downloadable resource is the Art of Exterior Gilding & Domes guide. This guide will help you to understand the skills and expertise required for this specialized work, ensuring that your gilding project is conducted with the highest quality and accuracy.
|
|
|
If you think others would be interested in our content, please forward!
SUBSCRIBE |
|
|
APT 2023 Annual Conference October 9-14th Seattle, WA |
|
As a national nonprofit preservation organization, the National Trust for Historic Preservation works to save America's historic places and is a great resource for anyone looking to learn more or get involved. |
| LHAT National Conference July, 16-19th Kansas City, MO |
|
The American Institute for Conservation and the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation work together to promote the preservation and protection of cultural heritage. Partner with us to further that mission. |
|
|
JOIN THE CONVERSATION #PerfectingPreservation #jcanningcrew |
|
|
|