Buttonholes

Grinling Gibbons, as famous for his carved cravat as any other piece; Hugh has taken the fashion accessory to the buttonhole. A suite of adornments began several years ago with A Rose in oak wood. The simplicity of the idea complicated by the mechanics of how to attach and wear it, a rigid material that will find and obey its centre of gravity.

The suite grew with a gift to Master Mercer Mark Aspinall incorporating the Mercers’ Maid with motiffs relevant to Grinling Gibbons – and so the hare was running – a branch of greengage cut back to allow access to a colleagues workshop repurposed as an ornamental tribute to Gibbons,
in pear wood a baroque head peering out from a GG monogram, an experimental child portrait ‘putti’ head appearing through a GG monogram supporting the Tercentenary National Festival
Patron’s Crest also in pear, a lime wood commemorative corsage ( not illustrated ), lastly an homage to a reredos and pioneering priest.

The suite will continue to grow and disperse as ideas and time allow.