Custom made FRONT DOORS | Architectural ornament and decoration | Copying a front door decorated with wood carving

Custom made front doors

 “Copying a front door decorated with wood carving”

It happens quite often that a carpenter or joiner relies on my craftsmanship, i.e. my expertise as a wood carver, and my knowledge of ornaments and decorations. Many of them take on a commission, but often they do not know how to include and execute ornaments and decorations in wood. At times like these a collaboration between the carpenter/joiner and wood carver is inevitable. It goes without saying that the final result can only benefit from such a partnership.

As subcontractors we have been making ornaments and decorations for in and outdoor joinery for well over 25 years now. A local carpenter was troubled with the following situation: he was asked to copy a classical double front door. This late 19^th century door was ravished by the sands of time. Chronic exposure to moisture had caused irreparable damage, and besides, the door no longer met the standards set by the client and the requirements of contemporary outdoor woodwork.

However, the customer had a keen eye for detail and historic value and therefore wanted the carpenter to produce an exact replica of the existing front door. The idea was that after renovation the façade truly had to be an eye catcher in the historic city of Tongeren (Belgium).

The city of Tongeren is located in the south of the Belgian province of Limburg, not far from Liège, the French speaking part of Belgium. Starting from 15 BC Tongeren quickly developed as a Gallo-Roman settlement. It is the oldest city of Belgium. The Gallo-Roman museum and the gothic 14^th century basilica are just a few of the touristic highlights. Furthermore, the “Kroningsfeesten” or Coronation festivities are organized every 7 years and every Sunday it is possible to visit the largest antique and second hand market in the Benelux. ( =Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg)

The original front door with carving, Tongeren(B)

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Some detailed images of the ornaments

African Padauk

The door was manufactured in African Padauk; also known as African Coralwood. This type of wood is categorized as durability class I. An extremely durable, valuable and stable type of wood originating from central and tropical west Africa. Beautiful coral red to purple brown heartwood that is suitable for high-end applications such as outdoor joinery.

African Padauk heartwood has a coral red color, hence the name African Coralwood. It is also used as a dye in the textile industry. I experienced this first hand.

"Padauk ' used as a dye in the textile industry," experienced firsthand.

The wood pulverizes easily and stains skin and clothes, which causes slight skin and airway irritability. When unfinished direct light results in rapid discoloration of the wood from red to brown.

The color of the heartwoods differs depending on the geographical location. Under optimal growth conditions the color is coral red with black stripes (Gabon) or uniformly red in Cameroon. Near the edge of the growth area (Congo, Congo-Brazaville) the heartwood contains ugly white spots. This, however, does not alter the durability or mechanical properties of the timber.

The wood grain is relatively fine with an even structure, but, as is the case with all types of tropical wood I worked with, African Padauk wood has an interlocked grain. This type of grain makes it difficult to apply wood carving to larger panels, compared to types of wood with a straight grain. But for this particular door there were only a few decorative elements (several frames with wood carving). Therefore the presence of an interlocked grain did not constitute a major problem.

 

The front door with carving and prime color

UNIQUE FRONT DOORS, Custom made

https://www.patrickdamiaens.info

A Ribbon & Bow carved in wood | Wooden Picture Frame Custom-made | Carved ribbon & bow for a Wooden Picture Frame

Patrick Damiaens
Ornamental Woodcarver



A 'Ribbon and Bow' 
carved in wood

The 'Ribbon & Bow' as an ornament
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Starting from the mid 18^th century ornamental ribben and bows often appear in compositions or as a free standing ornament. Ribbon & bows were often used in the “Transition” and “Louis XVI” style periods, and this association therefore represents a clear reference to these particular periods. Ornamental ribbon & bows were commonly applied to painting and mirror frames.

Near the end of the 18^th century an art movement emerged which incorporated many “classical elements”. This style period is known as Neoclassicism. Neoclassicism was symptomatic of a desire to return to the “purity” of the arts of ancient Greece and Rome; with a particular focus on Greco Roman architecture. 
During that time the interest in the use of the ornamental bow was rekindled. Consequently, bows carved in wood appear as independent, free standing ornaments or as part of mirror or painting frames; but also as crests on larger frames or simply as a detail in elaborate wood carving. 
The application of a ribbon and bow on furniture is almost always combined with other ornaments.

The ribbon and bow were commonly combined with several other objects, usually hanging vertically from the ribbon or bow. This particular composition is referred to as “trophy”. Combined these objects could represent a wide variety of themes and topics, such as war, hunting or music. Smaller compositions of fruit or vegetables combined with a bow are tasteful examples of adornments for all kinds of furniture and architectural woodwork. 

Carving a ribbon & bow in wood

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Several weeks ago I was asked to carve a neoclassical ribbon & bow in basswood. The client was a small artisanal company located in the German Ruhr area, that was specialized in the traditional production of frames and in the gilding of art objects. One of their customers was in the possession of a slightly damaged ribbon & bow that used to be part of an oval shaped frame.

This renowned German company was asked to make a similar style frame as the oval one, but this time the frame had to be rectangular, adorned with an identical ribbon & bow. It was my task to carve a 40 cm long ribbon & bow in basswood.

To give an impression of the dimensions. I started out with a plank measuring 40 x 20 x 3.5 cm. The material had to be quite thick for visual reasons, as the bow had to “rest” on the top of the frame. It was also important to keep in mind that the profile of the frame had to run under the bow.
In a later stage the carved ribbon & bow was to be gilded using gold leaf.

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Given below is an impression of the several stages involved in carving a wooden bow

The design is transferred on the wood

The ribbon & bow is sawed out

Modeling can begin

The original ribbon and bow serves as inspiration

Detaching the Ribbon & Bow

At the rear the excess wood is cut away

A carved ribbon & bow for  a frame

The final result of carver and gilder
(Gilding we discuss in a later blog entry.)

https://www.patrickdamiaens.info

Traditionally handcrafted bench | Small bench for the foot of the bed | Bedroom benches | CUSTOM MADE

Patrick Damiaens

Ornamental Woodcarver

Traditionally crafted bench

Small bench with cabriole legs

 
A classic custom-made bench would give your bedroom interior a more glamorous and timeless appeal.
This small bench with cabriole legs made of solid oak is meant to adorn the foot of the bed.
It is a rustic Louis XV style bench. (1730-1760)

Nowadays, an interior without new types of 18^th century style seating furniture is hardly imaginable.
In the 18^th century, the diversity in design and make was enormous. New types of seating furniture appeared, characterized by their comfortable shape and precious upholstery.

 

One of the biggest changes to seating furniture during this period was the total lack of H or X shaped joints between the legs.
The legs were slender en had a beautiful S shaped curve that gently and fluently crossed over into the finely bent front and side strips. The upholstery, fixed to these strips, flowed along this fine curve.

 

 Small bench for the foot end of the bed

 small bench for the foot of the bed

 
Below you can find a few pictures on the subject:

Carving the cabriole legs

Traditionally crafted

Small bench for the foot of the bed

WEBSITE Exclusive seating furniture