In Spring 2021, LM Conservation was approached by Llandaff Catherdral to carry out repairs and sensitive, practical alterations to the George Pace Frame that was to house the newly restored Bishop Marshall Panel.

“The panel was originally part of the episcopal throne to Bishop John Marshall, commissioned in around 1480. The throne is long lost, and the panel has had an itinerant life over the last few hundred years. For the last half-century it has been displayed as the backing to a sedilia (bench seat), designed by George Pace or his assistant Ronald Sims in around 1961, located to the west of the Dyfrig Chapel, north of the chancel. The itself was not a remarkable design by Pace’s standards, and using the panel as a back rest was an insensitive and damaging setting for the panel.” (DHVA Covering Statement 1.5)

“The panel is not a wall painting; it was part of a three-dimensional architectural throne of which no visual records survive.” (1.6)

“A number of design studies have been undertaken for the panel frame and support, including designs that recreate the setting of the panel in a modern interpretation of a throne canopy. After consultation with the Dean, it has been agreed that the panel will be displayed with a simple frame and a support that holds the panel off the wall in a way that invites the viewer to imagine its original setting, rather than explicitly recreate it. Fragments of the George Pace sedillia frame will be retained, primarily because they are vital to the strength of the panel, but also to hint at an ‘archaeological’ backing to the panel to convey that the panel once had a much greater architectural context. The stainless steel sub-frame required to hold the panel from the wall has been designed to echo the cramps that are often used to hold memorial tablets to show that the panel should be read as a piece of architecture (like a sculptural memorial), rather than a painting.” (1.7)

Lazron Matia carried out the repairs using English Oak, responsibly sourced from The Heritage Trust Whiney Sawmill in Herefordshire. We stained the adjustments to the frame to match the historic woodwork and finished with a light sanding and shellac sealer.

The original restored Bishop Marshall Panel was then re-fitted and the completed frame installed on the south wall of the south chancel aisle vestibule, outside the entrance to the Chapter House, where it can be seen today.