Limestone Doorway Installed

303 5th Ave. New York, NY

 Here it is the over all view of the capitals and the cartouche DMS Studios sculpted for this project. We sculpted and carved the architectural elements that couldn't be done on machine.

We were asked by Robert Young & Sons to work on this project because they needed our expertise and experience in getting the sculptural elements just right. We have worked with Robert Young on many projects in the past and this was one of the most enjoyable ones.

It's always nice to see the end result up on the building. To look back and say hey we were a part of that, is really a great thing. To be part of the restoration of New York City's historic architecture is so rewarding. Maybe it will be around for another 100 years!!

Architectural Stone Carving & Sculpture

Architectural Stone Carving & Sculpture

Beautiful works of art. Stone carvings such as this are less and less common as time goes by. There was a time and place for such beauty and it is not today.
Today our culture is run by speed and production. There is just no possible way to produce something like this, the same way you can put up a tin building today. Yes, I am bias. I can't really appreciate the architecture that is being done today. It just doesn't have the charm or sophistication. It feel it is empty and cold. Modern architecture can be sleek and stylish, but I think it loses it's presence after a year or two and simply becomes another glass box. Your eyes kind of glaze over it and there is nothing there to capture you.

A typical turn of the century New York building. I don't remember exactly where this building sits, but it is so charming and elegant. It has such character. Even though it may be hundreds of years old, it still impresses you in every way. But more than that, it comforts you. It's like an old sweater or jacket that you love to put on in the fall breeze even though it's sooo out of style and doesn't match anything else in your closet. I think this old time architecture brings a sense of calm and peace to the environment. Especially in the big city. You feel a human warmth coming from the hand cladded stone.

Architectural details such as this,

Stone carving a limestone capital

Stone Carving a Limestone Capital

This picture shows the clay model that was first sculpted in order to produce this capital in stone. After sculpting it in clay, we can begin to carve the limestone capital. This is the only way to get an accurate reproduction of authentic stone capital.

This is a rigid plaster cast of the sculpted clay capital. 

This photo shows the beginning of the carved limestone. In this part of the sculptural process requires a skilled and experienced craftsman to set points and copy the model from the plaster cast. The carving shown here is the progress only after 3 days starting with a pure block of limestone.

This photo show two identical capitals one for the left side and the other for the right side of an entryway. These capitals have been refined and carved to be exact replicas of the classic work that was done in the past. DMS Studios works very hard to produce historical and authentic quality in our work