bronze and Portland Stone artwork
An Age, An Instant by Rona Smith, New Burlington Mews, London
The Portland Stone and bronze artwork
We were asked to produce Rona Smith’s installation in New Burlington Mews. This is one of a series of public artworks in Regent Street which the Crown Estate commissioned.
Rona Smith is an artist working primarily in sculpture and installation. For An Age, An Instant she has responded to her research into the history of the Regent Street area which was a hub for watch makers in the early 20th century when the façade was rebuilt. The work takes inspiration from engravings on turn of the century pocket watches and offers a link to the past through a contemporary expression of mechanical time-keeping.
The company routed out slabs of Portland Stone and cut the bronze which was inlaid into it. The Portland Stone cladding ran the length of the Mews on both sides.
Details of the artwork showing the interplay between metal and stone.
This project was the first time that we used our water jet cutting machines for materials other than stone, a technique which we have since utilised on other projects, such as Julian Opie’s friezes for Citizen M, Tower of London, and the Hamilton Princess, Bermuda, as well as inlaid flooring for Harrods amongst others.
project details
architects: Allford Hall Monaghan Morris Architects Ltd
client: the Crown Estate
artist: Rona Smith
materials: Portland Stone, bronze