Antique Mirror Restorations
Ruth Tappin Restoration
Restoration: HomeRestoration WorkCommissioned PiecesGlossaryContacts
Mirrors
Picture Frames
Gilded Furniture
Architectural Work
Restoration Project
Restoration Project

Project one, the restoration of a large English mirror.

 Dragon mirror top before

Mirror top after stripping off all the paint and bad repair

 dragon mirror finished

Mirror top after restoration fully repaired and re-gilded

 dragon mirror before

Mirror corner after stripping off all the paint and bad repair

 dragon mirror start of restoration

Mirror corner the missing wire is added

 dragon mirror sculpting missing decoration

Mirror corner the missing parts are sculpted back

 dragon mirror finished

Mirror corner fully repaired and re-gilded

 dragon mirror side scrole beforedragon mirror side scrole before

Side scroll after stripping off all the paint and bad repair

 dragon mirror side scrole finished

Side scroll fully repaired and re-gilded

 dragon mirror finished

The restored mirror

 

Project two the making of a new margin mirror.

 wooden frame

Wooden frame

 gessoed frame

The frame after eight coats of gesso and sanded.

 compo on frame

Frame with the compo decoration added.

 boled frame

The frame boled in yellow, pink and black.

 aged frame

The frame when the gilding has been aged.

 full margin mirror

The finished mirror.

2m high by 1.3m wide

Project three, restoration of a very damaged picture frame.

 Damaged frame

Damaged picture frame, pictured here after stripping off gold paint.

 compo on frame

Picture frame with compo decoration restored.

 restored frame

Finished picture frame gilded and aged.

 restored frame

Full  picture frame.

Project four making a new triple plate over mantel mirror.

 wooden frame

Wooden frame.

 wooden frame

Close up of the wooden frame.

 frame with decoration

Frame after its been gessoed and the compo decoration added.

 frame with decoration

Close up of the gessoed frame.

 frame gilded

Frame after it's been gilded and aged.

 frame gilded

Close up of the gilded frame.