Celebrating Swan Upping, a restoration for Vintner's historical role in the City

Believed to be the first public sculpture in London ever to be commissioned by a Livery Company, the 'Swan Maker and Barge Master' by  Vivien Mallock was originally cast with us in Talos and installed at the southern end of Garlick Hill.

Original statue installed in 2007

The commission was to celebrate the role that Vintners, Dyers and the sovereign played in owning swans on the Thames and the annual event of marking and counting them, known as 'Swan Upping'. The event, still held today, is quite the splendid affair involving much pageantry and ceremonial costume as depicted in the statue. The figure, a Swan Marker, is wearing the traditional 17th century Barge Masters uniform as befitted his role of managing the Swan Uppers during the event.

To understand more of the history behind the event, which is still carried out today, there is a nice piece by Know Your London here

Artist Vivien Mallock's daughter Sarah with the newly restored bronze, the amazing crew from MTeC haulage who collected and helped install the sculpture and Talos Foundry owner and restorer - Richard Atkinson-Willes.

The Vintners’ Company, which commissioned the original piece, asked Talos Foundry to restore and remount the original work to fit with newly renovated Little Trinity Lane — and very smart it looks too. The very realistic swan that is at the master's feet required our chaser's engineering mindset to ensure the precision welding held the weight of the two bronze pieces in place while also sitting correctly on the curbed mount.

It was a very sunny day in the City of London when Richard and team took the finished bronze to be installed. The whole area is coming together and the statue, rightly, takes pride of place.

For more about Talos Art Foundry Restoration and Repair services contact us info@talosartfoundry.co.uk