The selection of photos below are from the collection of Fisk sculptor Morgan Faulds Pike, and offer a glimpse into her process as she created the final sculptural elements for Fisk’s Opus 72, at Wellesley College in 1983.
All images from the collection of the artist.
This pair of Lions Rampant can be found within the pipe shades at the top of the main case. This is the first step, showing the graphite drawings on curved pieces of linden wood. The areas that are cut out help refine sound from within the case.
A finished carved lion, before shellac has been applied as a first undercoat.
The lion after the first coat of shellac has been applied.
The lion shade with half of a red undercoat in progress. This red tone is applied ahead of gilding and provides a warm hue beneath the gold leaf.
The finished lion shade after 23k gold leaf has been laid on to the gold Size is a special kind of oil varnish which dries very slowly. When it reaches a certain tackiness, thin sheets of gold leaf are carefully floated onto the sticky surface.
Two ravens argue at the base of the center tower of the main case. They are shown here before gilding.
Gilded ravens.
This “leaf man” is located on the one of two intermediate towers of the smaller positive case. Shown here before gilding.
One of two shades that sit at the feet of the pipes in the leaf man towers on the positive case. Shown here before gilding.
This rose was made for the brustwerk door on the main case. Carved from Fumed white oak wood.
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