Ben Harms
Encyclopedia
Ben Harms is a German born traditional woodcarver working in England and current President of The Master Carvers Association. Some of his work can be seen at The Tower of London, Windsor Castle
, Kensington Palace, Hampton Court and alongside the work of Grinling Gibbons
at Petworth House
.
One of Harms' first major commission, after he and Ray Gonzalez had formed their partnership, was the restoration of three carved full size horses at the tower of London; the horses are displayed in the armory. Harms' early works can also be seen at Cambridge university in The Chapel of Emmanuel College, where extensive gilding work was undertaken.
During the restoration work at Windsor Castle after the fire, Gonzalez and Harms carved the four Queen's Beasts which were totally destroyed in the fire which began in the Queen's private chapel. They were totally recarved as close to the originals as possible.
Uppark
, a stately home in West Sussex
was gutted by fire in 1989, and restored in 1994 in the National Trust
's largest renovation project. Harms and Alan Lamb were turned "into latter-day versions of Grinling Gibbons, the most famous woodcarver in England's history", when they carved a new version of the winding fruitwood serpent on one of the saloon doors.
Harms also sculpts in wood,stone or clay. In 2000, Gonzalez and Harms created four large bronze panels to be placed in the entrance lobby for the newly created Queen Mary II . Each panel depicted a different scene from around the world. including Africa, Europe, South America and North America. During the sculpting of the North American panel, Harms depicted the statue of liberty with a small satellite dish standing at the bottom. Beside the satellite dish is depicted Homer Simpson who has run a wire from the satellite dish into his TV in an attempt to obtain free cable.
G&H Studios recreated a substantial amount of a carved trophy for the refurbished British galleries, which opened in the Victoria and Albert Museum
in 2001. The workshop was visited at this time by Greg Peters, 2000 Churchill Fellow of The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust of Australia.
In 2003, Gonzalez & Harms carried out work for the restoration of Christ Church, Spitalfields, involving thirty-eight existing carved oak brackets with repair work, and eleven brackets to be newly made; and above the brackets corniced mouldings which they also carved.
Harms has made bronze-like panels and statues for the Victoria Palace Theatre, the Royal Gardens of Dubai, and Windsor Castle. He has been involved in restoration at Kensington Palace, the Music Rooms at The V&A, The Entrance Hall at The Royal Academy, The Tower Of London and Petworth House.
Harms is included in The Complete Book of Woodworking: An Illustrated Guide to Tools and Techniques by Declan O'Donoghue (2003).
As a member of the firm Gonzalez & Harms is one of 26 Full and Associate Members of The Master Carvers Association. Harms is the current president of The MCA and came to office in December 2008 Harms also tutors at West Dean College
.
Ben Harms and G&H Studios in 2009 carved the Kings Beasts for the newly restored Chapel Court Garden at Hampton Court for the celebration of King Henry VIII 500th anniversary of his accession to the throne. The beasts were originally standing in the garden and throughout the palace including the moat bridge. They were originally created on commission by the king to celebrate his marriage to Jane Seymour in 1536. They were all destroyed in the reign of King William III. Several beasts were recarved and mounted along the moat bridge in 1911 but were not painted as they were originally. In 2009, Patrick Baty
was commissioned to investigate the original beasts and colours. The carvings and colours were recreated from existing paintings of the garden. Ben worked closely with acclaimed landscape architect
Todd Longstaffe-Gowan to restore the gardens to their former glory. Ben continues to produce amazing carvings across the world but has also start a studio dedicated to his second love Kenpo Karate. along with his son Steve Harms has now opened Kenpo Uk and has just taken part in the world LTKKA championships in dublin. Ben is a second degree black belt and so is steve. ben has opened a site for his kenpo at www.kenpouk.com
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
, Kensington Palace, Hampton Court and alongside the work of Grinling Gibbons
Grinling Gibbons
Grinling Gibbons was an English sculptor and wood carver known for his work in England, including St Paul's Cathedral, Blenheim Palace and Hampton Court Palace. He was born and educated in Holland where his father was a merchant...
at Petworth House
Petworth House
Petworth House in Petworth, West Sussex, England, is a late 17th-century mansion, rebuilt in 1688 by Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset, and altered in the 1870s by Anthony Salvin...
.
Life and career
Ben Harms was born in West Germany. He came to England in 1968 and took an apprenticeship with Eke and Gonzalez where he began his woodcarving career. He then joined Trollop And Coles. He later joined forces with Ray Gonzalez to form Gonzalez and Harms. From then on the two mastered the arts of traditional woodcarving and gilding.One of Harms' first major commission, after he and Ray Gonzalez had formed their partnership, was the restoration of three carved full size horses at the tower of London; the horses are displayed in the armory. Harms' early works can also be seen at Cambridge university in The Chapel of Emmanuel College, where extensive gilding work was undertaken.
Uppark
Uppark
Uppark is a 17th-century house in South Harting, Petersfield, West Sussex, England and a National Trust property.The house, set high on the South Downs, was built for Ford Grey , the first Earl of Tankerville, c. 1690 and was sold in 1747 to Sir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh and his wife Sarah...
, a stately home in West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
was gutted by fire in 1989, and restored in 1994 in the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
's largest renovation project. Harms and Alan Lamb were turned "into latter-day versions of Grinling Gibbons, the most famous woodcarver in England's history", when they carved a new version of the winding fruitwood serpent on one of the saloon doors.
Harms also sculpts in wood,stone or clay. In 2000, Gonzalez and Harms created four large bronze panels to be placed in the entrance lobby for the newly created Queen Mary II . Each panel depicted a different scene from around the world. including Africa, Europe, South America and North America. During the sculpting of the North American panel, Harms depicted the statue of liberty with a small satellite dish standing at the bottom. Beside the satellite dish is depicted Homer Simpson who has run a wire from the satellite dish into his TV in an attempt to obtain free cable.
G&H Studios recreated a substantial amount of a carved trophy for the refurbished British galleries, which opened in the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
in 2001. The workshop was visited at this time by Greg Peters, 2000 Churchill Fellow of The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust of Australia.
In 2003, Gonzalez & Harms carried out work for the restoration of Christ Church, Spitalfields, involving thirty-eight existing carved oak brackets with repair work, and eleven brackets to be newly made; and above the brackets corniced mouldings which they also carved.
Harms has made bronze-like panels and statues for the Victoria Palace Theatre, the Royal Gardens of Dubai, and Windsor Castle. He has been involved in restoration at Kensington Palace, the Music Rooms at The V&A, The Entrance Hall at The Royal Academy, The Tower Of London and Petworth House.
Harms is included in The Complete Book of Woodworking: An Illustrated Guide to Tools and Techniques by Declan O'Donoghue (2003).
As a member of the firm Gonzalez & Harms is one of 26 Full and Associate Members of The Master Carvers Association. Harms is the current president of The MCA and came to office in December 2008 Harms also tutors at West Dean College
West Dean College
West Dean College is situated in the West Dean Estate, of West Dean near Chichester. The Estate was formerly the home of the poet and patron of the arts, Edward James. He was an avid admirer of the Surrealist movement, and formed one of the largest collections of their works during his lifetime...
.
Ben Harms and G&H Studios in 2009 carved the Kings Beasts for the newly restored Chapel Court Garden at Hampton Court for the celebration of King Henry VIII 500th anniversary of his accession to the throne. The beasts were originally standing in the garden and throughout the palace including the moat bridge. They were originally created on commission by the king to celebrate his marriage to Jane Seymour in 1536. They were all destroyed in the reign of King William III. Several beasts were recarved and mounted along the moat bridge in 1911 but were not painted as they were originally. In 2009, Patrick Baty
Patrick Baty
Patrick Baty, is a British historian of paint and colour, who works as a consultant in the decoration of historic buildings.-Early years:...
was commissioned to investigate the original beasts and colours. The carvings and colours were recreated from existing paintings of the garden. Ben worked closely with acclaimed landscape architect
Landscape architect
A landscape architect is a person involved in the planning, design and sometimes direction of a landscape, garden, or distinct space. The professional practice is known as landscape architecture....
Todd Longstaffe-Gowan to restore the gardens to their former glory. Ben continues to produce amazing carvings across the world but has also start a studio dedicated to his second love Kenpo Karate. along with his son Steve Harms has now opened Kenpo Uk and has just taken part in the world LTKKA championships in dublin. Ben is a second degree black belt and so is steve. ben has opened a site for his kenpo at www.kenpouk.com