Decorative Heraldry at Gosterwood Manor
Gold LeafKensington Gilders were commissioned to create decorative heraldry with gold leaf at Gosterwood Manor in Surrey. Heraldic gilding is among the most specialised work we carry out, requiring not only technical gilding skill but also an understanding of the conventions of heraldic design: the correct representation of charges, tinctures and divisions of the field.
The client wanted a family coat of arms rendered in full colour with gold leaf elements, to be displayed prominently within the manor house. The design was first drawn up at full scale by our in-house artist, working from the client's heraldic grant. Every element had to be accurate. In heraldry, the distinction between "Or" (gold) and other tinctures is not merely decorative but carries specific meaning.
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The gold elements were water gilded using 23.5 carat loose leaf, which allowed us to burnish the gold areas to a high shine and create a clear visual contrast with the painted sections. The bole ground was varied: red bole beneath the gold for warmth and richness, which is the traditional approach for heraldic work dating back centuries. The painted areas were executed in traditional egg tempera and oil paints, using the correct heraldic colours.
Gosterwood Manor is a fine country house in the Surrey countryside, and the interior where the heraldry was to be displayed had a decidedly traditional English character. The finished piece needed to look as though it had always been there. Not a modern reproduction, but something with genuine age and gravitas. We distressed the outer edges slightly and used a warm-toned protective wax to give the finished work a soft patina.
The project took several weeks to complete, between the initial design work, preparation of the panel, gilding, painting and final finishing. It was a rewarding commission that drew on the full range of skills our team has developed over four decades in the trade.
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