How do I hang a heavy wooden wall bracket safely?

Wall brackets and heavy carved figures require secure fixings into structural timber or masonry rather than plasterboard alone. Assess the weight and backplate stability before mounting. Consult a professional restorer or installer if the original mounting points on the antique wood are fragile or worn.

What is the difference between a putto and a cherub?

Putti are classically derived infant figures, often secular or decorative in Renaissance and Baroque contexts. Cherubs originate from biblical traditions and denote celestial guardians. In antique art terminology, the two terms are frequently used interchangeably by makers and dealers to describe winged child figures.

How should I clean polychrome wooden sculptures?

Dust these delicate surfaces gently with a soft, dry brush to prevent the accumulation of abrasive particles. Avoid using water, damp cloths, or chemical solvents on historic paint and gold leaf. Aggressive cleaning can strip away fragile gesso and original pigment layers, permanently altering the appearance of the carving.

Can I determine the exact age of an unlabelled carving?

Dating relies on analysing tool marks, wood species, and stylistic traits typical of periods like the seventeenth or eighteenth centuries. Oak usage often points to earlier centuries, while pine and specific revival styles can indicate nineteenth-century work. Comparing construction methods with dated examples in museum archives helps narrow down the probable decade of creation.

Why do many antique angels show signs of wear and missing parts?

These sculptures spent centuries in churches, chapels, and homes where they endured humidity changes, relocations, and structural alterations. Fragments such as detached wings or separated heads are common because pieces were often removed from larger altarpieces. Such historic losses and repairs form part of the physical history of objects that survived from the Renaissance and Baroque eras.