Victorian chimney-piece restoration, example 1

This imposing, highly carved Victorian chimney-piece had been poorly handled by carriers. The fragile marble to the upper moulding had been damaged due to poor handling and new sections of matching antique marble had to be sourced and spliced in to match the existing and then re-carved and polished. Once completed the whole chimney-piece was gently cleaned with non abrasive cleaning agents and after test trials extensive coats of poultice were used to remove as much staining as possible. The completed chimney-piece in its entirety is shown in the adjacent picture. Although not to be used as a working chimney-piece re-installation included the building up of piers behind the internal returns upon which a slate cover plate was inserted to structurally support the underside of the shelf.

Detail of upper moulding (click image to enlarge)	Repaired and installed (click image to enlarge)