Mason’s Livery Company to support Gibbons Award in stone carving
We are delighted to announce that the Worshipful Company of Masons have committed £5000 towards supporting the Gibbons Tercentennial Award for early-career carvers in stone. This is a tremendous commitment to the aims and outcome of the Award, and we thank them for their role in helping safeguard the skills and craftsmanship advanced by Grinling Gibbons and supporting present-day makers in the development of their craft and creativity.
William J Gloyn FRICS (Past Master and Trustee and Deputy Chairman, Masons’ Company Charitable Trust) expressed on behalf the Trust: It is a great pleasure to be able to provide funding for the Tercentennial Award stone carving competition. This will help highlight the work that Gibbons undertook in stone, often overshadowed by his woodcarving. Examples can be found in many locations around the country including an elaborately carved font in St. James’s Piccadilly and an impressive naval monument in Westminster Abbey, both carved in marble .
The Worshipful Company of Masons, which dates back to mediaeval times, has always been involved in charitable activities. In particular, a major focus of our support now is the education and training of people working with stone. We are privileged that the craft at our roots as a Livery Company is still practiced, often in a way that would be recognized by those medieval masons.
