Chris Pye: Woodcarving - Woodcarvings by Others

The design The design is very similar to a frame that is owned by the Hershey (chocolate candy fame) Hotel, Hershey, PA (USA).
Only limited information about the original frame is available. It was carved in 1933 and completed as a part of interior furnishings for the Hershey Hotel when it opened that same year.

Some years ago, while on a visit to the area, I took pictures, measurements and made mental note to one day, carve and gild such a frame.
Particular thanks is due to Mr. Mark Perrin, Facilities Engineer, Hershey Hotel for his assistance.

I water-gilded the entire frame (back and front sides) with 23K gold leaf.
The 1 1/2" wide inner border is a convex shape where the floral design is yet to be painted.

A very talented local artist (Mrs. Joanne MacVey) has agreed to complete the artwork but her schedule puts same at many months distant.
Eventually I will be able to show you the mirror in all its glory.

On the left is my completed frame, sans artwork on inner border.

Chris Pye: Woodcarving
Edmond McKamey: Hershey Hotel Pattern Mirror Frame email: eomckamey@hotmail.com Basswood. August 2005 Height: 45in. Width: 28in. Depth: 7in. (top) and 2-3in. (elsewhere) Mirror opening: Height, 24in. Width, 18in.
	The design The design is very similar to a frame that is owned by the Hershey (chocolate candy fame) Hotel, Hershey, PA (USA). Only limited information about the original frame is available. It was carved in 1933 and completed as a part of interior furnishings for the Hershey Hotel when it opened that same year. Some years ago, while on a visit to the area, I took pictures, measurements and made mental note to one day, carve and gild such a frame. Particular thanks is due to Mr. Mark Perrin, Facilities Engineer, Hershey Hotel for his assistance. I water-gilded the entire frame (back and front sides) with 23K gold leaf. The 1 1/2" wide inner border is a convex shape where the floral design is yet to be painted. A very talented local artist (Mrs. Joanne MacVey) has agreed to complete the artwork but her schedule puts same at many months distant. Eventually I will be able to show you the mirror in all its glory. On the left is my completed frame, sans artwork on inner border.
Author's Images & Notes of the Work in Progress. These are full pictures - please allow time for them to load.
	Pattern & Layout
	Glue up and the pattern transferred ready for bandsawing.
	On the bench with first cuts. I followed normal woodcarving steps: setting in, grounding, bosting & modeling etc. The convex shaped inner border was perhaps most difficult to carve on entire frame due to its smoothness and continuing shape. I fabricated 7 aluminum "templates" to gauge the correct profile.
	The carved frame ready for the next step: gilding
Gesso (whiting & rabbit skin glue) is first applied to the entire frame, then "bole" (rabbit skin glue & clay) applied over gesso: yellow bole first, then red to all highpoints. This serves as an underlying base for the next gilding steps.
	Close-up of top area of frame.
	Left center flower area. I have applied Silver colored "Palladium leaf" to the flowers and miscellaneous areas. It handles identically to real gold leaf and is twice as costly. However it will not tarnish like the alternative, silver.)
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