THE CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION OF THE HEREFORD SCREEN
DESCRIPTION
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THE CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION OF THE HEREFORD SCREEN |
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THE HEREFORD SCREEN Designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott and made by Skidmore and Co. Coventry, for the choir of Hereford Cathedral, England; 1862 The screen is 10.5 metres high, 11 metres long and weighs over 8 tons (around 1000 kilos). Its basic structure of timber and cast iron is embellished with wrought iron, burnished brass and copper. Much of the copper and ironwork is painted in a wide range of colours. The arches and columns are decorated with polished quartz and panels of mosaic. |
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Passion flowers in many forms are dominant motifs on the screen, and symbolise the suffering of Christ upon the cross (the Passion). The bearded figure of Christ is the focal point of the Screen. On either side, angels play musical instruments, welcoming Christ’s Ascension to Heaven. The back of the screen – the side facing the altar – is less ornate, having no figures, but simply the monogram ihc (meaning Jesus). All the figures – which look as though made from cast bronze – are in fact made from electroformed copper, a revolutionary new technique at the time, and much cheaper than casting bronze. Electroforming is the process of using electricity to cast a metal object. This is done through the electrical deposition of metal upon a plaster pattern or model, while it is immersed in a suitable liquid. |
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Above :Hereford Screen Angel Left: Hereford Screen engraving from the Illustrated London News, 1862 |
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HEREFORD SCREEN |
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