How should I hang a heavy wooden panel?

Heavy carved wooden panels require secure wall fixings suited to the weight of the timber and the plaster of the wall. Metal brackets or concealed French cleats provide stable support without damaging the antique structure. Position the panel at eye level away from direct heat sources and strong sunlight to protect the wood and any remaining paint or gilt layers from cracking.

How do I care for antique painted wood?

Maintain stable indoor humidity and temperature levels to prevent the wood substrate from expanding, contracting, or splitting over time. Dust the surface gently with a soft, dry brush without applying liquid cleaners or polishes. Avoid touching painted or gilded areas with bare hands, as natural skin oils can degrade fragile tempera and gold leaf over the centuries.

What is the difference between a carved panel and an icon?

A carved panel utilises three-dimensional wood carving techniques to depict figures and scenes in relief, often originating from European Gothic or Baroque church furnishings. These works rely on shadow and form shaped directly into oak, pine, or walnut. An icon is primarily a painted image on a wooden board, following strict stylistic conventions within the Russian Orthodox tradition, utilising tempera paints often enhanced with metal rizas.

Where did these panels originally hang?

Many of these pieces originated inside churches, abbeys, and cathedrals as components of altarpieces, choir stalls, wall friezes, and ecclesiastical screens. Others served private devotional functions within domestic shrines or homes. Later periods also saw the creation of decorative plaques and architectural fragments intended specifically for domestic interior display.