Antique Restorations

Blue Ridge Woodworkers
was commissioned to do the restoration of this carved eagle that has "flown" for over 100 years atop the octagonal wing of Arlington, Virginia's, historic Glebe House. It's perch, the Glebe's distinctive octagonal wing, is a two-storied structure attached to the house and topped by a belvedere with trefoil ornament. It is believed that diplomat Caleb Cushing of Massachusetts, who purchased the Glebe in 1870, placed the eagle atop its octagon.

When we received the eagle in 1994 it was in very bad shape. The body and globe were deeply

cracked. The upper and lower bill and tongue were found on the roof below the eagle.

   After removing the wings and wing brace we started the slow removal of the old paint and gelding clay. The earliest paint layers suggested the carving had been painted to resemble a golden eagle.

   Abatron products were used to consolidate badly weathered wood and fill cracks and lost pieces of the eagle.

   After months of careful cleaning and filling the eagle was ready for re carving and painting. The original carving was in fair condition and for

the most part the only
carving that needed to be
done was in the filled areas.

In this photo it is clear that the found parts of the bill are enough to recreate the original shape of the carving. Thanks to repairmen working on the roof of the Glebe House recovered parts were available to us to restore this wonderful piece of Americana.

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The eagle is ready for the next stage of the restoration in this photo. Now the paint mapping that we did in the first part of the restoration comes into play as layer after layer of pigment is laid down over the primer coat. Special attention is given to the individual feathers to accentuate the detail.

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The final clear coat is applied to protect the fine detail. The eagle is ready to take its place above the Glebe House once more.

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Front side view of completed restoration.

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Back side view of completed restoration.