Renovation of St. John of Nepomuk - in the studio of master Zbyszek Bereźnicki

Recently, I got a call from Zbyszek - a warm-hearted professional colleague, an excellent woodcarver and art restorer, also known for running the website snycerz.net. In a short, but as usual passionate conversation, he shared with me his impressions of one of his current works: the restoration of a historic sculpture of St. John of Nepomuk.

We have known each other for years and more than once I had the opportunity to see his restoration projects, so I accepted the invitation with great interest. So, with the permission of the master, I recorded accounts, his story, which you can listen to and see. Zbyszek is a craftsman with an exceptional sense of form and deep humility towards the matter he works with. This video is a great example of his approach to wooden sculpture - both from the technical and ethical side.

Masterful diagnosis and surgical precision

Renovation of this particular statue is not only a technical procedure, but also a conversation with history. Zbyszek perfectly “reads” the structure of the wood - he is able to identify not only the time when the object was created, but also traces of previous repairs, interventions and even mistakes of previous restorers.

The video shows with what delicacy and respect he disassembles the restored parts of the sculpture. The techniques he uses follow the best practices of woodcarving - he uses natural glues, traditional tools, and where possible, he works “quietly” without mechanical devices so as not to damage the integrity of the monument.

Conservation as a creative act

What I particularly appreciate about Zbyszek's approach is that he does not treat restoration as a routine task. Each sculpture he works with becomes a separate world to him - an object not only to restore, but also to understand. His knowledge of woodcarving styles, material science, as well as gilding techniques, makes him a complete craftsman.

It is apparent that this object - although badly damaged - has come into the best possible hands.

Shared passion, different paths

In the studio snycerz.pl we often have the pleasure of conducting similar projects, and our cooperation with Zbyszek is always an exchange of experience and inspiration for me. Although our paths sometimes differ - some focus on ornamental sculpture, others on the conservation of sacred monuments - we share the same work ethos: respect for history, craftsmanship and material.

Now this sculpture will go into the hands of a restorer, who will apply new and renew the old paint coatings. I have a photo promised, so I will include the end result of the complete restoration in the future.

For enthusiasts of woodcarving, this film can be a valuable educational material - it shows not only the workshop, but also the approach of the master to his work. If you are interested in what conservation looks like in practice, how to analyze the condition of an object and how to restore it to its former glory - it is worth watching the material from beginning to end.

Admiring woodcarving or sculpture is more interesting when we can view it in 3 dimensions. If you will be interested in how to make such virtual documentation of your works or objects without using an expensive scanner - write. I will try to make a video on how to do it. Of course, comments are welcome.

Greetings - Master Jan

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