Temple Bar, Paternoster Square

Sir Christopher Wren’s ceremonial gate into the City of London has had an exciting history, moving twice since it was erected. It is now in Paternoster Square and was my first building modelled from life.

To achieve the finish I visited it and photographed it extensively before completing a scaled elevation from said pictures. This elevation I used to create a 3D model, which was then printed. Onto the printed core I hand-sculpted the leaves, egg-and-dart, cornucopias and the four statues, as well as many other details.

This maquette I then cast to make a plaster prototype. This prototype I finished to achieve the final surface texture and to touch up details and adjust any elements which did not translate well from plastic to plaster. Finally I attached the prototype to a purpose-cast and carved backplate to make the final production mould.

In the photo below you are looking at the City side, entering Westminster: I have sculpted the Westminster side, entering the City. Therefore there are dragons instead of the Royal heraldic animals - and the statues are different.