Newspaper "Entracte",
by Philippe Gestin, 2003
Roof structure removed woodcarving and fantasy
Restoration for the "Monuments Historiques" (Ancient Monuments)
The architect of the 'Monuments Historiques' (Ancient Monuments) Marie-Suzanne de Pontbaud sums up :"The object is to reconstruct the roof structure which was collapsing. This roof structure had been shored up by my predecessor. The plaster vault had been removed. Now I must restore the roof structure, to renovate the slate roofing with some slates reused. We redo the panelled original vault which we have found some bits."
New woodcarvings
As during the building in the 16th century the various trades blend together on the building site : Carpenters, woodcarver and painter. Cornices, monsters of the "entraits" (big exposed beams which link up the vault), " the set of the woodcarvings of the church are doneall over again.I carry out the research, the drawing until the final achievement", says Thierry Laudren, Breton woodcarver from Rennes. " The cornices of the origin as the string pieces have been removed and given for the church of Loguivy-Plougras in 1902, tells Maximilien Philomenko, assistant of the chiefarchitect. Perhaps because of the reconstruction of the choir during the same time, therounded apse has been replaced with a flat-bottomedchevet of church."
woodcarving and fantasy
" I drew my inspiration from the cornices of Loguivy, but it is not a copy, reports Thierry Laudren. I set myself the objective to rediscover the atmosphere of the period… but honouring also the period of time ! which was not really enough ! Because the woodcarving is not a mechanized trade ; all ishandmade." The keyidea is "to keepa unity throughout the decor". This one is regulated by the waves of the ribbons, painted with some plants, animals, but few religious scenes. He adds a dash of fantasy, with heads of dragons at the end of the "entraits" (exposed beams).
Bodilis, a village of Brittany,
Finistère (department at the W of Brittany, in France).
The church of Bodilis dates from the 15th century
There are a few detailed shots on these ancient and colourful figures . Its roof structure was very damaged.
The 'culots' in oak, decorated with woodcarvings, required a great repairing.
This church, very beautiful, is listed as an Ancient Monument.
Lampaul
Lampaul is also a village of Brittany, Finistère (department at the W 
of Brittany,
in France)
This is a main beam (8 meters) for the church of Lampaul, carved over 6 meters.