Master Carver, Tim Crawley, who trained at the Art School from 1979 and was Head of Historic Carving from 2012 to 2020, has been commissioned to create a heraldic sculptural scheme featuring two bronze lamp standards to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
Representing the monarch’s “guiding light”, the pair of lamp standards are a gift from Parliament to the Queen and will be funded by MPs and Peers.
Tim commented: “Naturally, I was delighted to win this prestigious commission, which celebrates such an important national event, and delighted also to be entrusted to add something new to this iconic building. Working within the Palace is a privilege, and I answer to a small group of Lords and MPs, including Mr Speaker, which is a unique experience.”
The commissioning committee selected Tim’s traditional, Pugin-esque design which includes sculptures of the heraldic beasts of Great Britain and other royal symbols around the base of the standards. The lanterns themselves reflect the shape of St Edward’s Crown.
Explaining the design and making process of the lamps, Tim said: “The competition brief cited the much-loved Dolphin Lamps that line the Embankment as a possible inspiration for the commission, and I designed several options based on this concept for consideration by the committee. My preferred design was a contemporary take on the Gothic and heraldic language of the Palace of Westminster, but the committee chose an option that more closely referenced Pugin’s medievalism. Pugin produced several elaborate lamp standards for the Palace which are significant examples of decorative sculpture and these influenced the way I developed my designs.
“This is the largest bronze commission I have yet undertaken and I will be working closely with the long-established Morris Singer Foundry. Although most of my work is in stone, I spend a lot of my time modelling as a way of developing my ideas in three dimensions, making plaster casts from the models as reference for carving, so my normal way of working transfers easily into the use of bronze. Morris Singer will cast my full-size models hollow, using the lost wax technique. I will also be working with William Sugg & Co, who specialise in heritage lighting schemes often involving the traditional gas lighting that can still be found at Westminster.”
The lamps will be positioned atop the staircase leading to the fountain in New Palace Yard at the Palace of Westminster, built to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977, and it is hoped that the Queen will visit the statues next year as part of the planned celebrations.
The installation of the lamps follows a tradition of marking the reign of a monarch in such a way. Five lamps erected to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond and Golden Jubilees can be seen around the country and are now listed structures.
The Art School congratulates Tim on this historic commission and we look forward to seeing the completed sculptures when they are installed at the Palace of Westminster next year.
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