Are these plaques salvaged from historic buildings?

Many of these pieces originate as architectural salvage, having been removed from period interiors, churches, or historic European buildings during alterations. Such panels were often reframed or mounted onto backing boards in later centuries to facilitate domestic display.

How should I clean antique wood carvings?

Dust timber wall plaques gently with a soft, dry brush to remove particles from deep recesses without disturbing the historic wax or surface patina. Avoid liquid cleaners, silicones, and modern polishes, which can accumulate within intricate hand-carved crevices and darken the wood over time.

How do I distinguish sixteenth-century panels from nineteenth-century revivals?

Early panels display tool marks, timber shrinkage, and wear patterns consistent with centuries of handling, utilising regional woods native to their period of manufacture. Revival pieces often exhibit more uniform machine preparation or distinct nineteenth-century framing techniques, even when adopting earlier Gothic or Renaissance styles.