A Manchester mosaic artist has received help from more than one kind of palace in completing his latest work to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Not only was David Arnott supplied with adhesive, grout and sealant products from the aptly named Liverpool firm ‘Palace’ Chemicals, he also received royal approval and assistance direct from the Queen’s own household (from the other Palace).
To top it all, the 35-year-old artist, best known for his iconic pieces depicting celebrity culture, has learned that his 3ft x 3ft mosaic of the St Edward’s Crown – the crown worn by the Queen in her 1953 coronation, may even be seen by the Queen herself!
The expensively bejewelled mosaic was painstakingly created using ceramic tile pieces, gold glass, 24-carat gold pieces, diamond dust and no less than 43 precious gemstones including sapphires, amethyst, rubies and aquamarines. David even cut up a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne for the green elements within his design.
Well-known for the hours of research he puts into his art before beginning the meticulous task of cutting and fitting the thousands of tiny pieces, David wrote to the royal household for some background history on the St Edward’s Crown.
“They were amazingly helpful,” said David. “I wasn’t even expecting a reply, but they pointed me in the right direction to get all the information I needed to produce something very different.
I didn’t realise how much interesting history was behind this crown. Fingers crossed that the finished piece is fit for the Queen!
The finished piece took a very long time,” said David. “But although it was probably my most tasking piece yet, it was very enjoyable to do, and the process even increased my admiration for the Queen”.
David’s connection with his long-time supplier Palace Chemicals was not the only apt coincidence involving his royal crown mosaic. As well as using Palace’s Grab & Fix MS polymer adhesive to glue the tiny pieces to his base board, and Palace Fix & Seal to finish the work, he used Palace Colour-Lock Grout – and, of course, he used the platinum-coloured version as an extra nod to the Queen’s momentous occasion.
The piece was created for Clarendon Fine Art, the largest gallery chain in the UK, which sells art from the likes of Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali, as well as many of David’s other iconic mosaic works.
Charles Clapham, Managing Director of Palace Chemicals, said: “We’re extremely proud to play a role in the completion of David’s masterpieces. To learn that his Jubilee crown mosaic might even be seen by the Queen herself really is icing on the cake. What a very special way to mark a very special occasion”.
Palace Chemicals is the UK’s largest independent manufacturer of tile adhesives, grouts, building chemicals, wood treatments and decorating sundries. To find out more, visit www.palacechemicals.co.uk.
