 Recclesia News - Decorative Lead Fanlights, Islington
5th January 2012
Recclesia's metal workshops and stained glass studio have together completed work on one of the most complex fanlight projects that the teams have worked on. Duncan Terrace in Islington, London, was once lined with these decorative fanlights, each of which had a gas lantern at its centre. Today, some of the original fanlights remain, some are in a poor state and some have been lost to time altogether.
Recclesia was commissioned with the task of reproducing the original fanlights, using only traditional materials and methods. A property owner with a extant fanlight in good condition permitted us to take moulds, templates and measurements in order to aid the design. Once we had examined the original, every detail was carefully mapped out and a design produced for each individual element.
Patterns and clay models were produced of each element, from which casting moulds were taken. Molten lead was then cast into the moulds to produce the detailed decorative parts. The replica lantern was fabricated using stainless steel (the originals were in mild steel, which had caused problems in the past) with integral brass electric light fittings.
Every section was made in the same manner as the original and the end result is really quite stunning. The glass used was mouth-blown in Germany and was colour matched to the original fanlight glass.
If you have a similar project that you would like to talk to us about, contact us. |
