portland stone hand carved relief wall sundial

Last year Martin met a client at Hampton Court Flower Show.  This client lived very close to Hampton Court in an old listed cottage.  Originally there had been a large wall sundial on the front face of the cottage, unfortunately it was mindlessly stolen.  Martin was commissioned to recreate the original dial from old photographs.  The work was painstaking but very satisfying and the clients were delighted with the results.  The Portland stone dial was relief carved by  hand with hammer and chisel.  Parts of the dial we then coloured to match the original background blue and red of the Tudor rose.  The rampant lion was gilded with delicate gold leaf.  As you can see from the photograph the finished piece was stunning.