FIGUREHEAD: GOLD OR CHROME ?

 

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The 'Queen of the Nile' is a figurehead designed to be mounted on the Elizabeth Swann, hydrogen and solar powered trimaran. She is also a statue above the Fountain of Youth, in Sussex, England.

 

In July 2024 we are considering the options to really make her shine. We could give her a coat of paint, or cover her in gold leaf. Or, we could chrome plate this amazing work of art. Or, chrome and then gold electroplate the Southern Woman (Woman of the South).

 

 

   

 

 

 

1:20 STUDY - This is the original sculpture that we are basing our Queen of the Nile concept on. The figurehead based on Cleopatra was hand carved in metal and composites, where the very first attempt was made of paper and wheat flour dough reinforced with PVA adhesive, but was all but eaten by a hungry mouse over a very cold winter period, including the acrylic paint and PVA that we would have thought indigestible. This sculpture is about 300mm high.

 

 

 

 

 

The burning question in our minds at one point concerned the possibility and practicality of chrome plating large statues and where might such a service be located in or near to the United Kingdom. A big question?

The answer was that, yes, it is possible to chrome plate large statues, though it can be a complex process due to the size and intricacies involved. Chrome plating provides a durable and aesthetically pleasing finish, making it a popular choice for decorative purposes.

In the UK, there are several companies that offer chrome plating services for large items:

Nottingham Platers: They specialize in decorative chrome plating and have extensive experience in handling large volumes of work [1].

 

Douglas Metal Finishing Limited: Known for their high standards and wide range of finishes, they cater to various industries and can handle major projects [2].

 

Broadway Brass: They offer consistent and perfect finishes for all metal types, including large items [3].

1. www.chrome-platers.com
2. www.douglas-plating.co.uk
3. www.broadwaybrass.co.uk

You might suppose that if it is possible to chrome plate statues, that instead of gold leaf, it might be possible to put a layer of gold over a chrome plate to give a super polished finish. We have in mind treating the Cleopatra figurehead, that is about 3 meters high.

And indeed, it is indeed possible to apply a layer of gold over chrome plating. This process is known as gold electroplating, and it can be used to give a luxurious finish to items that have already been chrome plated. Given the size of the Cleopatra figurehead, which is about 3 meters high, it would require specialized equipment and expertise.

 

It would make sense to chrome plate first, to see how effective that might be as the final treatment.

Here are a few steps involved in the process:

Preparation: The statue would need to be thoroughly cleaned and polished to ensure a smooth surface.

 

Chrome Plating: The statue would first be chrome plated to provide a durable and corrosion-resistant base layer. Copper, Nickel, then chrome plating tends to fill in small irregularities.

Gold Electroplating: A thin layer of gold is then electroplated onto the chrome surface.

 

For a project of this scale, we'd need to consult with companies that specialize in both chrome and gold plating for large items. Some companies in the UK that might be able to help include:

Goldgenie: They offer gold plating services for a variety of items and might be able to handle large projects.

Aero Chrome Plating: Known for their high-quality plating services, they might be able to assist with both chrome and gold plating.

The Gold Plating Company: They specialize in gold plating and might have the expertise needed for your project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STUNNING - This artwork is just to show how awesome a figurehead would look, either gold or chrome electroplated.

 

 

 

 

 

The Cleopatra Queen of the Nile figurehead sculpture is a striking piece, often associated with the grandeur and elegance of ancient Egyptian art. This type of figurehead will make a stunning centerpiece if chrome plated and/or then gold plated.

For a project as unique and significant as gold plating a 3-meter Cleopatra figurehead, you’ll need a company with specialized expertise in handling large and intricate items. Here are a few companies in the south of England that might be able to assist:

Goldgenie: Based in London, Goldgenie offers high-quality gold plating services and has experience with a variety of large and complex items.

Aero Chrome Plating: Located in Surrey, they provide both chrome and gold plating services and are known for their precision and quality.

The Gold Plating Company: Based in Hampshire, they specialize in gold plating and have the capability to handle large projects.

The cost of gold plating a large sculpture, such as a 3-meter Cleopatra figurehead, can vary significantly based on several factors:

- Size and Surface Area: Larger items with more surface area will require more gold, increasing the cost.

- Gold Thickness: The thickness of the gold layer can vary, with thicker layers costing more.

 

- Preparation and Cleaning: The condition of the sculpture and the amount of preparation required can affect the price.

- Complexity of Design: Intricate designs may require more detailed work, impacting the cost.

- Current Gold Prices: The market price of gold can fluctuate, influencing the overall cost.

As a rough estimate, gold plating can range from £50 to £150 per square foot. For a large and intricate sculpture, the total cost could be several thousand pounds.

The cost of chrome plating can vary depending on several factors, including the type of chrome plating (decorative, hard, etc.), the complexity of the item, and the specific requirements of the project. Generally, the cost for chrome plating ranges from £20 to £50 per square foot.

 

At approximately 36ft2 square feet the cost of chrome plating would be between £720 - £1,800 pounds. Gold plating would then be between £1800 - £5400 pounds. Such finish could make a big difference in terms of public appreciation.

 

 

   

 

The beautiful Elizabeth Taylor on set applying makeup to clay face models in 1963

 

 

Elizabeth Taylor on set applying makeup to clay face models. 1963 film: Cleopatra.

 

 

 

 


Here are a few artists and sculptors who specialize in large-scale figureheads and similar works:

Orbis Conservation

Orbis Conservation is a specialist conservation team based in London, Devon, and Cornwall. They have extensive experience in restoring and conserving large-scale figureheads, including monumental 19th-century naval figureheads.

The Box, Plymouth

The Box in Plymouth is home to one of the largest collections of figureheads in the UK. They have worked with various artists and conservation teams to restore and display these impressive sculptures.

Marinmuseum

Marinmuseum in Sweden has a unique collection of massive wooden figureheads. While not in the UK, they collaborate with international artists and conservators who specialize in this field.

These organizations and their associated artists have the expertise to handle large-scale figureheads and could be valuable resources for your projects.

 

 

 

 

         

    

 

 

MAY 2024 SCULPTING - The polyurethane foam is stabilized with two coats of tough gold paint over a white base coat, prior to being coated in a clay like filler that is easy to sculpt and shape, but not strong enough without a composite skin to stand up to harsh weather over many years as a fountain feature and the figurehead of a ship. This sequence of photographs shows the development stages as a guide to artists and sculptors.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAY 2024 PRIMED - Not yet ready for gold leaf, but well on the way to a second coat of composite resin and filler, to rid us of the smaller irregularities in the sculpture. We are even contemplating chrome or gold plating, where gold leaf may not give the lustrous shine of the original 20th scale study. The problem being a bath big enough to take a 3 meter statue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BACK AND HAUNCHES - The gold paint is over-coated with a lightweight plaster that does not shrink and may be sanded. We treated it like clay. The pitted foam is filled in to give a far smoother finish. But, nowhere near silky enough for plating.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHOULDERS - The alloy wings are blended into the body sculpture. This will be shaped, primed and painted, and then reinforced with carbon fibre and epoxy resin. After which the whole will be coated in a special flexible polyester resin filler, and sanded to a super smooth finish. Hence, still quite a long way to go before electroplating in chrome or gold.

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

The aluminum and composite wings are blended onto the wooden frame with more clay and lots of time sculpting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

       

 

 

 

[LEFT] Flooding gold over white primer paint. [RIGHT] Back of the legs coated in lightweight plaster, ready for shaping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Miss Ocean (art student) learning how to apply plaster and shape it roughly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

We ran out of workshop space, leaving the statue in the great outdoors, in need of protection from the elements. We used an etch primer on the aluminium parts, and white primer to seal the clay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cleopatra as Isis reborn is symbolic of life and regeneration, the relationship between air, earth and water and the cradle of life, being an angel that nurtures our hopes for the future, giving life to our next generations and looking over us, so perpetuating the youth of the human race in a continuous cycle.

 

In harmony with the life force that has seen us populate our glorious Blue Planet, is the desire to maintain a balance in life that mankind is prone to disregard as we use our ingenuity to harness nature in disproportion to species distribution, that prior to the Industrial Revolution and population expansion, coupled with the ease of food production and transportation that we presently enjoy, has upset yesteryear's precious equilibrium.

 

 

 

 

https://www.chrome-platers.com/
https://www.douglas-plating.co.uk/?LMCL=tyEm2P
https://www.broadwaybrass.co.uk/chrome-plating
https://www.goldgenie.com/gold-plating-services-leeds/
https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/173539
https://artdaily.com/news/117945/14-ship-figureheads-weighing-over-20-tonnes-arrive-at-the-UK-s-newest-museum-The-Box-in-Plymouth
https://www.marinmuseum.se/en/visit-us/exhibitions/figurehead-hall/the-figurehead-hall-a-place-out-of-the-ordinary

https://www.chrome-platers.com/
https://www.douglas-plating.co.uk/?LMCL=tyEm2P
https://www.broadwaybrass.co.uk/chrome-plating
https://www.goldgenie.com/gold-plating-services-leeds/
https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/173539
https://artdaily.com/news/117945/14-ship-figureheads-weighing-over-20-tonnes-arrive-at-the-UK-s-newest-museum-The-Box-in-Plymouth
https://www.marinmuseum.se/en/visit-us/exhibitions/figurehead-hall/the-figurehead-hall-a-place-out-of-the-ordinary

 

 

 

 

 

Gold figurehead, Cleopatra as Isis Reborn, artwork and Fountain of Youth

 

 

 

 

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 Copyright © art and pictures Cleaner Oceans Foundation Ltd 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ELECTROPLATING CLEOPATRA QUEEN OF THE NILE IN CHROME OR GOLD METAL: A FIGUREHEAD SCULPTED IN WOOD AND METAL, SHEATHED IN CARBON FIBRE, WITH GOLD LEAF AS A POSSIBLE PROTECTIVE COVERING