Sign writing restoration specialists
CASE: Burton’s Original Tailoring Retail Shop, Abergavenny. July 2019
An amazing glass gilded sign writing restoration project. Starting up the restoring of 26 gilded friezes on site with Seraina Baumgartner assisting along the way.
Original sign gilding works by the late Geoffrey Vaughan c1923.
34 Gilded Panels ready for restoration
The total of 34 panels were originally gilded with acid etched details and surrounds. Suffering various degrees of damage we were drafted in to remove loose paint and match-in backgrounds repairing all damaged gilded letters.
- 3 panels required complete re painting and gilding.
- 9 panels needed gold replaced.
- Nearly all had peeling problems and required deep restoration to letters/background.
VOICE FROM THE PAST
On Day 2 a gentleman by the name of Mike Evans walked in and told us the story of the original local writer Geoffrey Vaughan, who made the panels in the 1920s.
It was at the very moment I struck this arc (image below) and felt my own hand fortunately matched perfectly the originator.
A TOWN OF SUCH WARMTH
On many occasions during our 8 day stay the people of Abergavenny made us feel more than welcome, taking time to connect and chat. From the outset both Seraina and I were taken aback by the warmth and genuine character of the local people.
DAY 3 – good success.
2 of the first fully restored and gilded lettered panels gleaming in their entirely appropriate way once again.
We X2 cleaned every panel and revealed all the patina needing to be preserved. Special sign work and sustained attention to detail.
Several gold lettered panels were severely damaged yet not beyond our repair.
HEAVILY DAMAGED GOLD LEAF
These required removal of flaking paint and gold leaf. Deep cleaning and re-outlining in antique lead/lamp black before a re-gilding and final treble back-up enamel coating.
Seraina popping in water gilded gold leaf replacements tabs to the ‘bow’ of the flagship. All the way from Zurich she did a great job.
Removing tiny areas of loose glass gilding.
OUR JOB WELL DONE
All gilded lettering panels finally back to life.
NGS
FOR
RESTORATION OF ANTIQUE
LETTERING
& GILDING
