How were these panels originally used?

Many of these carvings started life as structural components in churches, chateaux, and manor houses, forming part of wall panelling, altarpieces, or furniture. They were designed to demonstrate status and piety through elaborate biblical or mythological scenes. Over the centuries, changing fashions led to these elements being salvaged from larger schemes and mounted independently as wall art or incorporated into later cabinets and tables.

How do I care for antique carved timber?

Maintaining these surfaces requires minimal intervention, relying primarily on occasional dusting with a soft, dry cloth. Avoiding direct sunlight and sudden temperature changes prevents the timber from drying out and splitting. A light application of microcrystalline wax every few years helps nourish the grain without building up a sticky residue that attracts dust.

How can I tell a sixteenth-century panel from a Victorian copy?

Early panels display tool marks left by hand chisels and gouges, alongside natural shrinkage and oxidation in the grain that modern machinery cannot replicate. The timber density, fastener types, and style of joinery all offer clues to the true period of manufacture. Revival pieces often feature more uniform machine cutting and lack the organic wear patterns accumulated over hundreds of years of handling and exposure.