Lecture

Talk: Traditional Architecture Group Building Crafts by Clunie Fretton

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.


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.


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

Talk: Unravelling Gibbons' Cravats by Clunie Fretton

The ‘Chatsworth’ Cravat

Clunie 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 by Clunie Fretton

Fretton Handley will be giving a talk on carving 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.