Sanctuary

If you walked around my village you could never imagine that there was anything out of the norm busying itself in cities around the world disrupting the world. I cross the road to feed the goats with the neighbours girls, all gorgeous well behaved treasures. They have a new boy goat who is trying to fit into a trio of females, I feel sorry for him , little mite ! They butt his head in turns, telling him that he is in a female world and not to try pulling a macho routine ! I could watch them all day.

That said I am a busy bee, still packing and sorting and repairing stuff ready to move 'one day'. The thought that I might NOT be able to move is so terrifying that it is catalogued in the very back of my mind.

Last year ( or the year before ) I bought this gorgeous angel at our local antique/Junk store because he was broken and I felt sorry for him, worrying that things would get worse. I paid a lot, about 150 euros but chalked it up to a birthday. It is rather large , 70 x 67 cms and about 8 cms deep and it is an original creation, not a plaster cast of an existing sculpture. The artist is unknown.

I laid it on a pile of blankets for ages until I could find a solution for his safety. I decided to make a box frame and insert him, tying the wood supports to the back and then fixing the broken bottom.

He was very dirty and dusty, especially the back and it took ages with a brush and vacuum to clean him up. I didn't want him to look new and all white and decided to keep the patina.

Luckilly the antique dealer kept most of the pieces so it was just a puzzle to be sorted out.

This is the back showing the process of creation. The artist made a wooden frame and covered it in plaster mixed with horse hair as a base then built up the layers by hand, leaving parts to dry then carve away, adding and carving as he went. It is a long and delicate process. 

Below you can see that I glued the plaster pieces using wood glue but first wetting the edges to prevent the old plaster from sucking up the water in the glue and breaking the bond. I strengthened the joins with pieces of linen and it all worked well.

The Angel Gabriel in his frame, painted F&B Downpipe black. The lower edge was a temporary fit as the edge was not yet repaired. I didn't take photos but I twisted wires around the back wooden supports and fed them through the back of the box frame and tied them down to keep the sculpture in place when upright. I also bolted two hanging loops through the layers of wood but given the weight it is unlikely that I will be able to hang it one day. 

I couldn't repair this edge as it was but aftr making a small plastic frame I poured synthetic plaster and when dry I carved it and dirtied it with soot from the chimney.

And voila Gabriel is looking strong again and able to help us with our worries.  

Gabriel is a revealer.

Gabriel, in the Abrahamic religions, is an archangel. He was first described in the Hebrew Bible and was subsequently adopted by other traditions. In the Hebrew Bible, Gabriel appears to the prophet Daniel to explain his visions. 

The archangel appears in such other ancient Jewish writings as the Book of Enoch.

I hope that you are all seeing this confinement as the holiday you never could imagine, talking with friends, sorting out the house, making and reading and watching movies and turning these few weeks into something positive.

I miss my Ramsay House, I miss my minis and my equipement and finishing my drawing room. 

Sending you all, from myself and Gabriel the choicest of affectionate thoughts. 

Love to all.