The restoration of two mid 19th century Spelter figures: The Reaper (‘Left Handed Luke’) and The Sower (‘Nearly Headless Nick‘) continues, with Studio Assistant Ewan Stell.
The slideshow below details the process so far, with captions for each image explaining the stages of the restoration.
The base of The Reaper (‘Nearly Headless Nick’) is drilled to receive the reinforcing studding. 
The base of The Reaper (‘Nearly Headless Nick’) is drilled to receive the reinforcing studding. 
Pre-shaped studding is bolted in. 
The fit is checked. 
Prepared for JP Weld Adhesive. 
Bonded and supported, while curing. 
After sealing inside the legs with packed cling film, the ankles and calves are filled with epoxy resin. 
Broken sections of neck reassembled with JP Weld Adhesive. 
Collar of mesh moulded into the neck cavity. 
Collar of mesh moulded into the neck cavity. 
Epoxy putty applied to mesh. 
Head pressed home onto epoxy putty, which is modelled into neck forms. 
Head pressed home onto epoxy putty, which is modelled into neck forms. 
Clamped in place for curing. 
Clamped in place for curing. 
Remodelling the arm for ‘Left Handed Luke’ on an aluminium wire armature. 
Milliput modelling putty applied to the wire armature. 
The anatomy built up. 
The correct gesture, arrived at by studying the figure’s drapery and forms. 
The arm of ‘Left Handed Luke’ is now ready for moulding and casting. 
The Reaper (‘Left Handed Luke’) and The Sower (‘Nearly Headless Nick’) side by side, ready for the next stage of the restoration; remodelling and repairing cracks and damaged areas. 
The Reaper (‘Left Handed Luke’) and The Sower (‘Nearly Headless Nick’) side by side, ready for the next stage of the restoration; remodelling and repairing cracks and damaged areas. 
The Reaper (‘Left Handed Luke’) and The Sower (‘Nearly Headless Nick’) side by side, ready for the next stage of the restoration; remodelling and repairing cracks and damaged areas.
Stay tuned to see the next stage of the restoration process…
NICK EAMES 
Hi Nick – as it would be, I have the *exact same* Semeur and Moissonneur here in Melbourne Australia. Yours are the only others I can find. My Luke is currently Lefty – I’m looking around for some local artist to help repair, otherwise we’re all in tact (including the Reaper’s scythe). I have Lefty’s right arm detached (his stance is a hand-full of seed in early release), and was thinking someone could weld it back on – now seeing your site, I’m not sure. Do you know the history/artist behind these pieces, are these particularly rare?
(happy to send pictures, couldn’t see a way via your web-site..)
Cheers, Dave
Hi Dave,this message from you has only just come to light when we were reviewing the website! firstly! apologies for the deafening silence to your interesting enquiry about the spelter figures,I couldn’t find any signature or artists mark when I was restoring them, but they are clearly sculpted by a talented sculptor and are the best example of 19 century French sideboard ornaments I’ve seen.
I would be interested to see photos of the pair you have, ours once had the Scythe but they were damaged in a storm and it was lost, I restored them for my family as they were pretty mangled, I used a resin spelter compound of my own making, if a spelter metal restoration is attempted you risk losing the original piece, I follow the approach that it is better to leave a clear demarcation between what is original and what is restored.Thanks for getting in touch, you can reach me by email sculptornick@gmail.com
Best wishes Nick