Eagle Wood Sculpture from Taiwan

Posted by millerfenwood in 3-dimensional Work

This is an eagle carved from camphor wood, and was made and purchased in Taiwan. We believe it to be from the 1950’s-1970’s.

At some point the left wing suffered a complete break. Crude restoration attempts combined screw supports with adhesives. While this did at least reattach the wing, it left a sizable seam along the break, almost like a scar.

We have been able to detach the wing without causing any damage. This allowed us to see the internals and get a better understanding of the issues. We plan to remove all of the poor in-fill. With a clean wood surface, pegs and restorer’s adhesive will joint the wing back to the body. The restorer’s adhesive has properties that allows it to breath and move with the natural expansion and contraction of the wood. To hide the brake we’ll combine wood in-fills with finishing stains. Stay tuned for more…

Fernando Ramos Prida Collection

Posted by millerfenwood in 3-dimensional Work, Works on Canvas

The 8 works by Fernando Ramos Prida (1937) are enroute to auction with a layover at our studio for a little restoration. Most need moderate cleaning, and some will require a little more. Typical of Prida’s style, seven of these are reliefs made from wood, giving them many nooks and crannies for dust and dirt to accumulate. The eighth work is an oil on canvas and is sizable at 47 1/4” x 39 1/2.” We due expect the removal of the dirt to have a significant impact on the colors.

Prida was born on January 2, 1937 in Mexico City. In the 1950s, he studied art at the National Academy of San Carlos and the Esmeralda school of painting and sculpture. A spot in the very prestigious Galeria de Arte Mexicano was offered to him after he graduated. In 1965, at the age of 28, he had a one man show that sold out; and across the United States, Europe, and Mexico, he has had 31 solo shows and 69 group exhibitions. Cuernavaca is now where he calls home, but he has worked and lived in Boston and Paris.

Prida’s work can be found in private and public collections all over the world. In Mexico, Latin America, America, and Europe, there are 36 museums exhibiting original Fernando Ramos Prida pieces. At age 43, he began to carve and paint wooden tablets left outside to crack in the scorching hot sun. This art is reminiscent of the Olmec and Mayan heritage of his youth. This has become the style that he is most well known for.

Ivory Sculptures Finished

Posted by millerfenwood in 3-dimensional Work

Finishing touches to the ivory sculptures were made. We counted 37 broken flower leaves that were supported with tape while the Jade 403 hardened. For the pieces that suffered a rough shape from the fall, drilling was needed to smooth these areas and give a good fit. This was the same method of attachment the original artist would have used. We were pleasantly surprised by the wonderful and natural shine that came out from our careful cleaning. These statues are rather impressive pieces and were very rewarding objects to restore.

Ivory Sculptures Work in Progress

Posted by millerfenwood in 3-dimensional Work

With a temporary base to fortify the Vase with Flowers we’ve started the delicate task of reattaching the broken pieces. We’re using two types of epoxies; one of which dries clear. Tape is being used to hold the delicate areas while we work in the chrysanthemum flower structure that is quite cramped. Still to come will be a new, sturdier base with matching wood. Also, at the midsection, the statue is in two pieces where the flowers meets the vase. These pieces sit freely on each other, and we’ll use restorer adhesives to adhere them and greatly improve the stability. The Dragon Holding Birdcage has been propped, and a few loose planks adhered and weighted down while they dry. Stay tuned for more. . .