Michael Major: Sculpture - Restoration - Design
Lead Restoration
Mould Making
Metal Casting
Plaster Work
Stone and Marble Repair
Reduction & Enlargement of Sculpture
Michael has been involved with sculpture for over 25 years. The experience he has acquired over this period covers all aspects of sculpture from original design to completion. He also studied conservation and restoration and after working for several stately homes and museums, now offers his services on a freelance basis.
Over a 10 year period, Michael completed the restoration of the outdoor 18th century lead statue collection in the gardens of Castle Howard, North Yorkshire. This restoration project was supported by English Heritage
The culmination of this ten year project was the casting of 2 new double lead figures, Hercules and Antaeus and Pluto and Proserpine, standing magnificently on the South Parterre at Castle Howard.
Michael’s commissions include work for:
- The Museum of London
- Petworth House, Sussex
- Nottingham Castle Museum
- London Toy and Model Museum
- Cornbury Park, Oxford
- Charlton Park, Wiltshire
- Lulworth Castle, Dorset
- Southill Park, Biggleswade
- Gedling Borough Council, Nottingham
Sculpture
Design
Michael undertakes commissions of various 3-D design works. Typically, clay-modelling is used. Portraiture and figurative work, classical or contemporary design.
Enlargement/reduction/copies
Any scale of 3-D work considered including enlargement or reduction of existing sculpture, and copies of existing work.
Casting
Michael uses the traditional method of the lost-wax (‘cire-perdue’) process to cast metal sculpture. Mould-making facilities exist to allow the casting of 3-D work in a variety of media including plaster, lead, aluminium, bronze, epoxy/polyester resin and glass fibre.