Restoration Is Officially Completed!
Oct 28
The restoration is complete! What an interesting project this has been! The final pictures show just how well the added wood blends into the original wood. The finish color is spot on and it looks like the nutcracker has always been this way. It is on it’s final journey to Bob Mill’s home and we can’t wait to have him see it in person. I think he is going to be very happy with the completed piece.
Skull Nutcracker Looking For A Home!
Oct 23Brandon has been busy and completed another Skull Nutcracker for the Halloween Holiday. It is now listed on Ebay. This nutcracker is the forth skull he has done. This is one of our favorite pieces and it gets a lot of attention.
The restoration is moving right along. The carving is just about complete and next will be matching the finish. I will post pictures later this weekend of it’s progress.
The Restoration Goes On
Oct 17The design for the nutcracker has been agreed upon and Brandon is now on to the carving phase of the restoration. The first step was to add the wood to the original piece being very cautious due to the age of the piece. Then it was on to the carving. Brandon is quite meticulous when working. When I go out to the shop I find him wearing his jeweler’s visor (a.k.a. cheaters) and using another magnifying glass getting things just right.
The restoration is coming along nicely. Now it is about getting the transition to the new wood and the overall “look” of the piece just right.
This past week Brandon had some company in the old shop. Someone decided to abandon their kitten around our house. Probably because there is a farm close by. Instead of it going to the farm it adopted us. Clinging onto the screen doors crying to come in. We hoped to find him a nice home or we thought we would have to take him to the APL. The weather turned for the worse and Brandon allowed him to stay in the shop out of the rain. We all decided he is a sweet kitten. Needless to say we now have an addition to our family…….
We have all kind of resolved ourselves that we are meant for each other. It would be nice if our two other cats would feel the same way……
Final Design of the Restoration
Sep 24Brandon has been doing some clay sculpting to visualize different designs for the restoration piece. After a few different versions, this is the design that has been approved.
Restoration Clay Model
Restoration Clay Model
Restoration Clay Model
The next step will be to add the wood to the broken areas and then carve the design. True European boxwood turned out to be pretty difficult to find. We discovered that there are several different types of boxwood sold but this variety is rather rare now. We were lucky to find a supplier of the European variety and it arrived today.
Surprise!!
Sep 14Brandon has been working on the restoration piece. He took out the really old nails to get the metal off. He discovered that the nutcracker had legs and, as Bob put it, had worn “breeches”.
Nutcracker with metal removed
Nutcracker with metal removed
Nutcracker with metal removed
Now the design of the front handle will be going in a different direction than expected. Before this discovery the handle was a mystery and was going to be designed based on photos of French nutcrackers from this era. Now it will be in keeping with it’s original design and have legs. Brandon is going to do a few designs and see which Bob thinks would be most appropriate and then he will be on to the next stage of the restoration.