24ct Goldleaf Gilded Candelabra Commission

The Order of the Cross commissioned me to craft a candelabra handcrafted from wood and gilded to exact specifications, along with colour specific oil lamps that correlate with the colours of the body energy chakras. This will be the main object of the altar for the Perth branch of The Order of the Cross for the 2019 convocation week.

There are only 2 candelabras in the world handcrafted in the 1930’s and 1940’s that are housed in London and Glasgow. Members from all over the world attending the conference and convocation ceremony. It seemed such an exciting project, and I needed to get the right people for the job involved.

I contacted a local friend and woodcraftsman, Ian Thwaites to see if was interested in collaborating on the project. It would be his job to create the candelabra and his only reference was a few photos. He then contacted Gerry Reilly, master glassblower to construct the coloured glass oil lamps. We all submitted our quotes and volunteered 90% of our labour as a tithe. The tithe is usually paid as a contribution to a religious organization but instead we are contributing our time as our contribution.

Our submissions were approved by London mid-February 2019 and the work then started.  The candelabra is crafted from Western Australian Blackbutt and Tasmanian Oak, both known for their strength and durability.

Three artists wworked collaboratively on 1 ceremonial candelabra, and I will be gilding the 4 other holy ceremonial crosses plus one luminous cross.

After the convocation, The 5 crosses will be going separately to the Gold Coast in Queensland, Adelaide in South Australia and 2 to individual homes in Western Australia for the ceremonies.