As historic restoration specialty contractors, John Canning & Co.'s expertise covers multiple areas including historic color palettes/paint analysis, design/art commissions, condition assessments, decorative paint, gilding, plaster, stone, and wood. We took a closer look last month at historic stone, but since the autumn season is upon us, and we are starting to think of the colorful leaves and the trees they will be falling from, we thought it would be a good time to take a closer look at historic woodwork. Those glorious trees provide the wood we use to create woodwork that has been utilized throughout history as a useful and beautiful architectural feature providing a strong foundation and elegant décor throughout any building. Wood’s use in architecture has varied due to the style of the era and the type of wood available. Through analyzing and understanding the material, we are able to glance into the past and discover antiquated traditions. It is therefore necessary to maintain and conserve the original woodwork and designs of historic architecture so as to respect and appreciate past craftsmanship. Conserving, restoring, and repairing historic woodwork requires an experienced and skilled conservator who understands the different species and components of wood and how they relate to a building interior.
As experts in the field of historic woodwork, we have had the honor to work on restoring, conserving, and preserving the woodwork of some of the nation's most valued buildings. A few of those buildings include the Mark Twain House and Museum, the Henry Ford Fair Lane Estate, the Pennsylvania State Capitol, and Yale University.
The Mark Twain House and Museum is one of the first 100 properties in the nation to be designated a National Historic Landmark. For this landmark in Connecticut, Canning restored the architectural woodwork, plaster, and reinstated wallcoverings in the Mahogany Suite. The house was decorated in the 1880s by Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Associated Artists, and Canning refinished the mahogany panels using the same techniques they used. The mahogany woodwork was stripped and refinished to the original woodwork to its historic intent.
Canning has been working on projects at the Henry Ford Fair Lane Estate, a National Landmark in Michigan, since 2020. Most of our projects have been geared towards the restoration and conservation of the beautiful woodwork throughout the Estate. This work is part of the estate's restoration efforts to return Fair Lane (Home of Clara & Henry Ford) back to the look and feel of 1919, the time when the Fords had started to settle in to their new home.
For the National Landmark Pennsylvania State Capitol the Canning significant projects have included the restoration of the plaster, decorative painting, and historic woodwork repair and refinishing for many different spaces within the capitol. Currently we are performing woodwork restoration and refinishing on the Senate chamber desks.
Since the early days of the company, Canning's expertise has continued to be called upon and in turn has worked on a large number of projects at Yale University covering all scopes of our work including historic woodwork. Some of the significant woodwork projects took place in the James Gamble Rogers designed Sterling Memorial Library. The work in the library involved woodwork restoration and conservation along with refinishing new woodwork to blend seamlessly with the original woodwork.
To read more about historic woodwork, visit the links below. |
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Latest Articles & Announcements |
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| How to Identify and Prevent Issues with Historic Stone |
Continuing the topic of historic stone from last month, there are certain issues and defects which can arise in stone like erosion and deterioration. Owners need to be weary of these problems so as to treat them quickly and effectively before more damage occurs. Being able to identify issues in masonry and knowing how to prevent them in the future can save the beauty of a building and lengthen its lifespan.Check out this blog for more information on how to identify and prevent issues with historic stone.
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How Damaged Woodwork is Repaired and Restored |
The process of restoring and repairing woodwork is not a simple process. Requiring preparation, expertise, and artistry, there are multiple steps implemented by conservators in a wood restoration. This blog takes a look at some of the steps taken by professional contractors to reinstate a building’s woodwork to its original beauty. |
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Who's Who In Traditional Building has listed 25 leaders who have made a difference in the world of traditional design and historic preservation- and our founder of the company, master craftsman John Canning, is on that list. The list comprises 25 individuals who have dedicated their careers to the classical and traditional styles in myriad and outstanding ways, serving as models nationwide. John is honored to be on a list of people who have stepped in and stepped up to revitalize and preserve our built environment. The list includes a great group of architects, interior designers, landscape architects, preservationists, and craftspeople. Stay Tuned, we will be sharing more next month on John with his upcoming feature in Peter Miller's Building Tradition Podcast series.
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Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992, the Michigan State Capitol is one of the first state capitols to be topped with a lofty, cast-iron dome. Inside, the magnificent rotunda and nine acres of decorative fine arts give homage to Civil War Veterans. Currently undergoing conservation, the rotunda requires detailed cleaning to ensure longevity in preserving history. John Canning & Co., experts in preservation, are working alongside additional conservation professionals on this project, making their work seamless from one to another, making the work look like it has been done by one hand. This monumental project will continue to Summer of 2024. Check out the video to see What’s Going On at Michigan State Capitol here.
Canning is glad to be back working on another project at the Capitol.
Canning's relationship with the Capitol started in 1989 and has continued throughout the years and has included the complete restoration of the House of Representatives, Senate Chambers, Adjacent Areas, and Public Spaces, that involved all aspects of the decorative arts as well as addressing the sagging and detaching decorative plaster ceilings in the corridors.
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John Canning & Co. has been awarded by The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, New England Chapter, the 2023 Bulfinch Award for Historic Preservation for our work performed at St. Mary – St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Interior Finishes. Our organization is honored to be recognized for this award and is looking forward to the future of historic preservation, restoration, and conservation efforts. The goal of the project was to restore the originally desired intent and bring back the color palette, the incredible details and feel of the space. This project involved a comprehensive finish restoration by Canning that included decorative painting, gold leafing, glazing, polychrome finishes, wood finishes, art conservation, metal restoration, and plaster repair and replacement, including some ornamental plaster.
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We are just weeks away from the 2023 Annual Association for Preservation Technology Conference, hosted in Seattle, WA this year. John Canning & Co. is once again a sponsor and will be in attendance looking to share our wealth of knowledge, techniques, and capabilities in the restoration, preservation, and conservation space. We look forward to networking with industry professionals, architects, and contractors while experiencing all the conference has to offer. Stop by our booth during the expo to say hello! Learn More
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This month, we are proud to spotlight our very skilled Fine Arts Conservator, Rachel Gilberti, AIC. Rachel’s areas of expertise include large-scale murals on canvas, plaster, wood, frescoes, easel paintings on canvas and wood, polychromed wooden sculptures, gilded frames and more. She is also an accomplished decorative painter and artist. Rachel is a vital component in ensuring our goal of perfecting preservation is met, and her talents have been a huge part of many successful Canning restoration and preservation projects across the country. A few of those projects include: Michigan State Capitol, Luzerne County Courthouse, Washington Union Station, and the Henry Ford Estate To read more about Rachel's story, visit our website, linked here.
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John Canning & Co. is pleased to announce the addition of art historian Amy Marie Zucca, Ph.D., to the company. With a doctorate in Art History and specialization in the Italian Renaissance, Zucca will bring her expertise as sacred and historic sites are evaluated and provide context for the architectural styles and symbolism these spaces reveal. Through the collaboration with clients and in-house artists on commissioned work, she will also be writing featured blogs and articles on the current day connections between art and architecture performed by Canning, delving into the historical designs, techniques, and imagery inspired by the Old Masters. Amy is a excellent addition to the fantastic leadership team at Canning.
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The Boston Huntington Theatre project recently received a Preservation Massachusetts Award. This was a Shawmut Construction project that John Canning & Co played a small part in. Congratulations to Shawmut and all the other 2023 award winners. The Huntington Theatre received that Robert H. Kuehn, Jr. Award which recognizes projects that meld collaborative partnerships with creative and cutting-edge ideas for the rehabilitation and active reuse of historic buildings. Since 1988 Preservation Massachusetts has recognized the best in preservation with its annual awards program. Preservation Massachusetts (PM) is a statewide historic preservation education and advocacy organization dedicated to preserving the Commonwealth’s historic and cultural heritage. The 2023 Preservation Awards event will be held Wednesday, October 11, with an awards ceremony in the Great Hall of the MA State House.
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When it comes to historic woodworking, skilled, professional work areas like above-requires high attention to detail. |
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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.
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APT 2023 Annual Conference October 9-14th Seattle, WA |
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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. |
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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. |
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JOIN THE CONVERSATION #PerfectingPreservation #jcanningcrew |
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