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Creating an Wood/Bronze Sculpture Creating a Relief Carving - Creating a Bronze Creating a Mould Creating a Bald Eagle Creating a Crest / Arms
(Q) Why are Lime wood and Walnut your favorite woods?
(Q) How much would something like the original 'Osprey catching a Pike' wood sculpture cost?
(Q) What is your most unusual commission to date?
(Q) Why is the Coat of Arms so called?
(Q) Can the coats of arms bearing family names be used by anyone with the same name?
(Q) How can you have a coat of arms that you know you are entitled to use?
(Q) What is the College of Arms?
(Q) Why are Lime wood and
Walnut your favorite woods?
(A) Lime wood trees grow very large, something required for the life size Eagle sculptures which I particularly enjoy. The wood also carves very well, holds detail, and it is very stable when seasoned.
Walnut because it also carves
very well and has a nice colour and grain
pattern. Most
woods add a warmth and living quality, which makes each sculpture
unique.
(Q) How much would something like the original 'Osprey catching a Pike' wood sculpture cost?
(A) All the wood sculptures are costed by how many hours work is required to produce such a sculpture and the cost of the original tree. In the case of the 'Osprey' which took almost 1000 hours, this would be around $25,000 sold privately. In a gallery it can cost over 65% more.
Smaller limited edition bronze
sculptures prices start at around $1,700 sold
privately.
(A)
Although I also work directly
in clay, plaster and wax, when appropriate I like to work directly from wood
as
I always enjoy the challenge
of carving from a single piece of wood, although it would be easier and more
practical to make the original sculpture from clay or plaster, these originals
are destroyed during the moulding process. As all the work goes into the
original carving, it's therefore always nice to be able to retain the
wood 'Master Copy' which can then be sold as a totally unique one-off
sculpture.
(A) A typical mould is very
complicated object to make, the outer shell is made from plaster, the inner
part is made from rubber, and it is made in several pieces. In the case of
the Osprey, the cost would be around $4,700. Once all the editions are made,
the original mould is destroyed.
(A) The bases are not weighted
in any way. I have learnt over the years how to angle the sculptures in such
a way as to make them look as if they will fall over; however; they are indeed
extremely stable.
(Q) What is your most unusual commission to date?
(A) It has to be a Woodcarving of a 3ft high tooth, carved from Elm Wood. The 'Tooth' was then covered in gold leaf, and now hangs outside a Dental Surgery in Southampton, UK.
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(Q)
Why is the Coat of Arms so
called?
(A)
In the Middle Ages the metal armour
of the knights and noblemen had to be protected from the heat , so the metal
armour was covered by a padded linen coat called a surcoat. The charges of
armorial devices were embodied on these surcoats, hence the name 'coat of
arms'.
(Q)
What is an
achievement?
(A)
In Heraldry the word achievement
does not mean that something has been accomplished, it is the name given
to a completed display of arms.
The achievement is composed of firstly The Shield, this is the most
important item as the special design called a charge is painted upon it.
Some achievements or coats of arms only consist of the shield. The
Helmet rests on the shield, the type of helmet denotes the rank of the
owner. The Mantling is the swirling drapery around the helmet, this
material protected the knights head and neck from the sun and was particularly
popular in Palestine during the Crusades. The Wreath or Torso
was usually made of a twist of material often silk which kept both the mantling
and The Crest in position, these Crests were particularly popular
at the time with the knights during tournaments. The Supporters generally
belonged to Royal or ducal coats of arms, they can be both animals and people.
The Compartment where the supporters stand is usually earth or water.
The Motto, not all achievements have a motto, if they do it is usually
in the form of a scroll.
(Q)
Can the coats of arms bearing family
names be used by anyone with the same
name?
(A)
Unless you can prove direct descent
in the mail line from the original bearer of the arms you are not entitled
and therefore permitted by the Law of Arms to use such arms. There are many
companies that provide for a fee a design of arms that may well be associated
with the same surname as yours, however it is not always the case that you
may be entitled to use them.
There is no effective way of preventing anyone from designing and using a
coat of arms of some other person with the same name. Any such arms are called
'usurping arms', or if you have not received a grant 'bogus arms'.
(Q)
How can you have a coat of arms that
you know you are entitled to
use?
(A)
Anyone may apply to the College of
Arms and provided they are worthy persons and have no criminal record, they
are rarely refused. There will obviously be a fee charged for their services.
Many coats of arms have belonged to the same family , being handed down from
father to son for generations, Kings and princess were the first to have
heraldic coats of arms. Today arms are still used as a means of identification
many Companies and public concerns such as Banks and Insurance companies,
sporting clubs, town and County Councils have applied for and been granted
arms.
(Q)
What is the College of
Arms?
(A)
The building which now houses the
College of Arms was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666, but a
new building was erected on the same site in 1670 to house the Heralds offices,
the unique library of official records which are used to ensure that any
new coat of arms required today do not repeat any that already exist. Anyone
who wishes to enquire about whether they are entitled to use an existing
Coat of Arms or would like to pay the required fee to commission their own.
Here are a few useful Addresses that may help. :-
In England
:-
Try consulting the Officer in Waiting, in writing at the :-
The College of Arms.
Queen Victoria Street
London EC4.
UK
http://www.college-of
arms.gov.uk
or phone 0171-248 6448., hours between 10.00 a.m - 4.00 p.m. GMT
In Scotland
:-
The Lord Lyon King of Arms and the Court of Lord Lyon.
HM New Register House
Edinburgh EH1 3 YT
UK
In Ireland
:-
The Irish Genealogical Office,
2 Kildare Street,
Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
European Heraldry Office :-
The Secretariat, The European Heraldry Office
PO Box 1028-B
8045 Zurich
Switzerland.
In the USA
:-
There is a not-for-profit corporation called,
' The College of Arms Foundation Inc,' in
New York. USA which may also be able to assist.
In most other countries, heraldry is controlled by a government department,
although many of these departments still apply to the
College of Arms in London for advice and designs.
For tracing your family tree,
in England and Wales :-
Office of Population Censuses and Surveys
General Register Office
St Catherine's House
10 Kingsway
London WC2B 6YT
UK
In
Scotland
The Register General
New Register House
Edinburgh EH1 3 YT
UK
In Northern
Ireland
The Register General
Oxford House
49/55 Chichester Street
Belfast BT1 4HL
UK
In the Republic of
Ireland
The Register General
Joyce House
8/11 Lombard Street East
Dublin.
Heraldry Order of the Bath Order of the Garter Bath Crests Garter Crests Background Info Creating a Relief Carving
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