Carving workshop

Restored pipe organ facade in mahogany with gilded carvings including five towers at New York, with new carvings by Laurent Robert

St. Paul's Chapel, Wall Street, New York City.

Pipe organ wood carving reconstruction.

This project focuses on reconstructing woodcarvings for the historic organ case at St. Paul's Church in New York. Crafted in 1802 by German organ builder John Geib and English organ-builder George Pike England, this organ case is one of only a few surviving examples of his work. Accordingly, to guide the reconstruction, I closely studied the surviving John Geib / English organ-builder George Pike England organ case in the UK.

Ce projet consiste à restaurer un buffet d'orgue de l'église Saint-Paul à New York. Datant de 1802 et réalisé par le facteur d'orgue allemand John Geib, ce buffet est l'un des rares exemplaires encore existants. Afin de reconstituer les parties manquantes, je me suis inspiré d'un autre buffet de Geib situé en Angleterre. De cette manière, je pourrai sculpter directement dans du tilleul deux consoles, en suivant le style caractéristique de l'artiste. Avant de commencer la sculpture, j'ai réalisé un dessin préparatoire basé sur une étude détaillée du buffet anglais.

 

 

St. Paul's Chapel was constructed between 1764 and 1766. It's now the oldest public building still in use in Manhattan. This Georgian-style church resembles St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, and Andrew Gautier designed it. Pierre L'Enfant created the impressive "Glory" above the altar, which depicts Mount Sinai. The pulpit boasts a unique design with a crown and feathers on top. Fourteen original chandeliers illuminate the chapel's interior. In 1794, they added the wooden steeple.

President Washington attended services here during his presidency. After the 9/11 attacks, the chapel served as a shelter for those assisting with rescue and recovery efforts.

Carved reversed console openwork in lime wood before gilding treble side

Reversed console treble side prior to gilding

A pair of consoles designed and carved in bass wood

treble side pipe organ carving reconstruction for pipe organ

Drawing of brackets or consoles, based from the John Geib pipe organ case in England

Carvings of four pendants in mahogany based from original 1802 material

Reproduction of 4 pendants copied from 1802 carvings in mahogany

Carved reversed console openwork in lime wood before gilding bass side

Reverse console bass side prior to gilding

John Geib portrait together with one drawing of a pipe organ
drawing of acanthus leaves, Laurent Robert woodcarving
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