Romanesque capital- looking for examples, suggestions for a detail

[Gargoyle]

I'm carving this limestone capital, and I'm trying to decide what to do in the "eye" in the crocket leaves. (yellow arrow in second photo). Normally I'll leave it empty and go deep to create a nice shadow- I like negative space to help define forms. But this is for a university and will be at eye level, and a big empty space like that will attract gum wrappers and other litter.

I have several ideas, a rosette, a ball flower, but I'm not sure something just floating there makes visual sense. I might do a stem with berries... I'm not really enamored of any of those ideas yet. I've been digging through my books for historic examples, all I can find is extra leaves the fold under from the main leaves, and I don't think that will work without getting messy. Do you have any historic examples or ideas for this?

Given my druthers I'd put a mouse, squirrel, or lizard in each one, but that won't fly with the clients design requirements. Needs to just be organic.

 

[Old Gunsmith]

I tinker with stone a little bit myself and can see where you are going. I saw a design similar to this somewhere and it had a flower bud in these spaces. Since you have clusters of three flowers, you might try a cluster of three buds for uniformity.

Dennis

 

[Gargoyle]

I like that idea. I'll do some drawings and see if it works.

 

[mitch]

How big is it?

 

[dave198700]

stunning

 

[Gargoyle]

How big is it?

About 37" wide, 27" tall, 1000 lbs. (that's about 94 cm wide and 450 kg.)
I have two of these to do, slightly different designs.

 

[Gargoyle]

OK, here's what I did in the eyes- sets of three flower buds. Thanks OldGunsmith for the idea.

 

[Old Gunsmith]

Perfect!!! Exactly what I was talking about. You are definitely a whole lot better stone carver than me.

 

[Adder]

OK, here's what I did in the eyes- sets of three flower buds. Thanks OldGunsmith for the idea.

Fantastic!!

 

[Gargoyle]

The finished capitals.

 

[Dave London]

The finished capitals.

Beautiful work gargoyle

 

[Old Gunsmith]

Excellent work. Just wish I was that good.

 

[Gargoyle]

The fireplace is from the 1890's, my capitals were replacements, my new design.

 

[Old Gunsmith]

I have seen your smiling face somewhere before. Did you happen to be featured on A Craftsman's Legacy?

 

[Gargoyle]

I have seen your smiling face somewhere before. Did you happen to be featured on A Craftsman's Legacy?

Yes, back in the very first season.

Also in the interview section here on the Engravers Cafe, from 2009.

 

[Old Gunsmith]

OK, Thanks