Lunchtime Lecture: Sky Arts Master Crafters – Wood Carving with Clunie Fretton

Please join me on May 11th for a free lecture at the Victoria & Albert Museum, followed by a woodcarving demonstration.

“This Craft Week, delve into the woodcarving world with Sky Arts’ Master Crafters, and discover the history and importance of this heritage craft with award winning woodcarver Clunie Fretton, in conversation with V&A Curatorial Fellow in Furniture History Dr Jenny Saunt. Clunie and Jenny will discuss the history of the craft, Clunie’s career and work, her upcoming appearance in Bill Bailey’s Master Crafters: The Next Generation, and her collaboration with the V&A. This event will then be followed by an exclusive woodcarving demo with Clunie in the V&A's Learning Centre - please note that spaces at the demonstration will be limited on the day.

Celebrating traditional crafts, Bill Bailey’s Master Crafters: The Next Generation will spotlight the stellar work of expert crafts professionals across Britain and follow junior crafters as they refine their skills. Filmed across the UK, this series will explore three traditional heritage crafts in all their glory: wood carving, stained glass and silversmithing. The show will also highlight the work of The Prince’s Foundation in supporting new generations of crafters and keeping traditional building skills alive as a key part of our national and international heritage.”

Booking isn’t necessary, and places are allocated on a first come first served basis. More information on the lecture can be found HERE, and more information on the carving demonstration can be found HERE.

Talk: Traditional Architecture Group - Building Crafts

The recording of this talk may now be found HERE.

Join me for a talk this Thursday 27th October with the Traditional Architecture Group, looking at the Building Crafts, where I’ll be joined by Sam Lee and Robert Kranenborg.

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The first talk, 'London Stone Carving: Sculpture in Stone' will be by Sam Lee.

Sam Lee is a stone carver, sculptor, and Director at London Stone Carving Ltd. Sam will discuss stone carving in the 21st Century, the working practice at LSC, and share some of their most notable projects.

The second talk, 'Contemporary Woodcarving' will be by Clunie Fretton.

Clunie Fretton is a classically trained sculptor, gilder, and master carver working on private and public commissions in the heritage sector. She has a varied practice ranging from restoration of antiques to production of new work in the classical tradition. In this talk, Clunie will share with us a selection of completed commissions, note some of the challenges facing carvers today, and what role sculpture and ornament can have in contemporary architecture today.

The third talk, 'Forged Bronze in Architecture' will be by Robert Kranenborg.

Following a short explanation of the differences between the various bronzes used in an architectural context, the talk will touch on the ways that we have used it in architecture before. Exploring the unique solutions that hot forging of bronze using traditional blacksmithing techniques can offer. This will be illustrated with examples from current work on a private residence in Antigua, a church tower restoration near Liverpool and bronze balustrades in London and Jersey.

The talks will finish with a discussion and Q&A.

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Tickets can be booked HERE through the Traditional Architecture Group’s Eventbrite page.

Talk: Unravelling Gibbons' Cravats

The ‘Chatsworth Cravat’

I will be taking part in a panel discussion this coming Wednesday 28th September at the wonderful Strawberry Hill House as part of the finale of the Grinling Gibbons Tercentenary year.

The talk will be examining Gibbons’ ‘Walpole Cravat’ from the V&A alongside the carved cravat from Chatsworth House (and also the Cosimo Panel), leading specialists will be in discussion as they seek to ‘unravel’ the many knotty questions that these small but beautifully formed examples of artistic genius and technical skill provoke, including how, why, and even, by whom these pieces were made. The panel of speakers will also explore cravats in the seventeenth century, when lace was a revered luxury, and today, how the ingenuity and virtuosity of these works still trigger the incredulous response that they did 300 years ago.

Bringing their expertise and a variety of perspectives, the discussion panel will feature Nick Humphrey (V&A Curator of Furniture and Woodwork 1300-1700), Silvija Banić (V&A Curator of Textiles before 1800), Sash Giles, (Chatsworth House Curator of Decorative Arts) and Clunie Fretton (sculptor, carver and gilder). The panel will be chaired by Dr Martin Postle FSA (Deputy Director The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art and Trustee of Strawberry Hill).

‘Unravelling Gibbons’ Cravats’ is part of the culmination of GG300 Festival and organised by the Grinling Gibbons Society. The event will be held at Strawberry Hill House, the house in which Horace Walpole’s famously wore Gibbons’ carved cravat to welcome and deceive his dinner guests.

Tickets include a wine reception and opportunity through to see the home of Horace Walpole - one of Gibbons’ greatest admirers.

Tickets can be purchased HERE

FHS Early Careers Talk With Ada de Wit

Clunie will be giving a talk with partner Felix Handley on carving along with Ada de Wit of the Wallace Collection this evening at 6PM in the Artworker’s Guild for members of the Furniture History Society’s Early Careers Visits, as part of their ‘Furniture Fundementals’ lecture series. The series is led by various lecturers in different fields pertaining to the study, creation and restoration of furniture, and are ideal for anybody passionate about the subject looking for more in depth information and the chance to meet and get to know others at the beginnings of their careers.

The talk will cover Britain’s love affair with limewood and the works of Grinling Gibbons, and the practical processes involved in carving.

Georgian Group - Meet the Makers Evening

Fretton Handley will be returning to the Georgian Group for this special event on October 24th. Guests will have the chance to see live demonstrations of wood and stone carving, and talk with ourselves and other makers about our craft and our experiences working in each of our fields. An illuminating evening accompanied by dinner and drink!

Tickets can be booked through the Georgian Group website:

www.georgiangroup.org.uk

The Georgian Group
6 Fitzroy Square
London
W1T 5DX
020 7529 8920

Georgian Group 'Splendour!' Demonstration & Talk

Clunie Fretton and Felix Handley will be demonstrating stone and wood-carving for any visitors of the Georgian Group’s ‘Splendour!’ Exhibition from 12-3pm on Saturday 11th of February for any interested guests who wish to see some carving in action!

We will also be speaking on a panel with Tim Crawley, Master Stone Carver and Head of Carving at City & Guilds of London Art School following his talk on his own experiences in a career of carving, given at the Georgian Group on February 23rd at 7pm.

Bookings for the latter may be made at:

www.georgiangroup.org.uk

The Georgian Group
6 Fitzroy Square
London
W1T 5DX
020 7529 8920

Watts Gallery Carving Demonstration

Fretton Handley will be performing a carving demonstration at the wonderful Watts Gallery in the village of Compton this coming Friday 28th October. This coincides with the filming of the television show Flog It!, so there not only will visitors be able to visit our carving demo and the beautiful works in the Watts Gallery, but also bring along antiques of their own to be assessed by the experts on the program. Do drop in and say hello!