"As good as old, Better than new"
General de Gaulle could have commented this quote with his famous words “Vaste programme”
Indeed it is, we’ve tried to make this quote ours, manufacturing leathers that looks ancient, with the same commitment to quality as in the glorious days of the gilded leather.
From the remote area of Gascony you will be invited to share daily life, Architecture, arts and perhaps even some Gastronomie.
The Lutson Team: Lut, Fevy and Frederic
This was a considerable order we made for the Nebraska State Capitol. It came to us via our distinguished distributor J Buscemi from Classic Revivals Inc
Several moulds had to be cut and over a hunderd panels had to be made.
All the chairs of the Governors hearing room which dated from the 1920’s had to be restored and the leather coverings replaced including those form the Councelors chairs and the Governors chair.
Some pictures I’ve got from the net for you to appreciate
A chair form the audiance room
A Councelors chair and the chair of the Governor
Unfortunately the pictures are of not too great a quality A seatThe governors seat back
The Plaisance was inpired by a circa 1750 design which is to be seen in the Museum Plantin Moretus, Antwerp. The Plaisance is very close to the original panel we magnefied the design, the result is that the flowers are large, thus more detailed and the stems and leaves are stronger and more detailed as well.
— The sample panel was made over 25 years ago it’s to be seen at John Nelson Inc our Miami distributor whom placed the order.
— Here under the panel we supplied J. Nelson Inc.
— The A to Z of the painting of a poly-chrome panel
— Above: The panel is embossed, gilded and antiqued this is the basis on which we start painting.
— The basis colour of the leaves is applied.
— All the basis colours of the flowers are applied
— Again several stages further: the flowers have been painted and the leaves had some shades applied.
— Now the nerving of the leaves and highlights on leaves and stems are painted.
— To bond the colours and downtone the gilding we antique the panels once more
— The panel on the left side of the picture above is a new panel the one on the right side is the original panel… All done, now packing !
This book will inform you in the technical matters of the gilt leather trade. Monsieur Fournet retraces for your benefit the geographical evolution of the trade and the fashion of the giltleather tapestries. He travelled for decades to see the ancient leathers in situ. Mr. Fournet knows which design sits in the cellars of which museum because he was there! He indexed and photographed and eventually told the conservators what sort of gilt leather they had in stock.
The nearly 400 pages counting book is just out, I don’t doubt that it will become a work of reference in this specific field.
Definitely worthwhile, today, available in French, I hope soon an English edition we see daylight.
It’s just a small Roman chapel that sits on a “promontoire” which means a dream location… in the French Alps. From the outside one will note that the tower has no tiles, nor slates, but is built in solid masonry, in contrast, the radiating chapels which have thatched roofing. The strongest next to the most care demanding roofs united in one building …
Inside the chapel there are two Alters one specifically dedicated to Marie.
Principal Alter
Side Alter: of “Marie” the dominant colour is red which is unusual
Meanwhile the Alters have been dismantled, Stored and have been restored.
The principal Alter
The Alter of Marie
Samples for the colouring and the metallic backgrounds had to be made for the Architects of Historic Monuments to choose from. At this stage the samples focus on the metallic ground, 6 samples were produced in 3 different metallic grounds. From each of these metallic grounds a sample was painted with a red flower and one with bleu flower when the metallic ground is chosen it’s easy to adapt the colours afterwards. The painting is in the early 18 century tradition.
Classic Gilding
Flat Silver-gilding
And Flat Silver-gilding with a yellowish varnish
This is where we are presently and awaiting the dicision of “les Monuments de France and la Drac” and who else ?
This is the Altar of St Martins Church in Vic-en-Bigorre
Here under the draped Altar cloth is replaced by a Gilt-leather Antependium, mind you its only photo-shopped picture, yet it tells the story.
Some examples of Lutson Gilt-leather alterantives to a fabric Altar Cloth: Double Damask: Gilded and hand painted Antependium
Fleurance: Tender colours on a silvered ground
Marot: Full Polychrome
All the designs for Lutson Gilt-leather Altercloth’s are traditional 17th and 18th century designs, they don’t carry specific symbols, they were not made for a specific Religion nor for any Christian denomination which makes our Gilt-leather suitable for all situations where one wishes create a setting with a great decorative impact.
The Baroque chairs as they came from Larvick Museum, Norway.
What happened to the Larvick chairs at the Lages upholsterers facility in Nora Sweden.
This is Master Leif and behold, he means business !
Master Leif attacking precious Lutson leathers with his hammer !
After hours of removing all the sick internals, putting in new springs, horse-hair, stuffing and canvas, after hours of cutting with dexterity and hammering like mad, but alert and vigilant so the hand and the hammer do what the mind orders. Its time for Mistress Annika to appear, sharp eyed to judge the work done.
Leif worked hard, Annika inspected severly and found the work excellent !
Mistress Annika taking the pose.
A detail: note the nice trimming cut from the excess of a panel its perfectly positioned and hold in place with the appropriated copper studs.
