Opening Plaques

The completion of a new building is often marked with an opening ceremony. Many of my opening plaques have been unveiled by members of the Royal family, which is always a great honour.

The design of the opening plaque should reflect the architecture of the building and fit with the interior. The inscription, as with any stone plaque should be kept to a minimum for strength. The coat of arms of the school or college is usually depicted either simply in the form of a shield, crest, or a full majestic flowing armorial carving.

When commissioning an opening plaque, the client will usually have the inscription ready. The style of lettering will then be discussed along with the shape of the opening plaque. As with any letter carving, attention to detail at this stage is critical. Sometimes the lettering is filled with gold leaf, or simply an off white shade of paint, or, if the direction of light source is favourable, nothing at all.

Opening plaques may be set into a wall flush, or may stand slightly proud. I usually fix opening plaques into place myself, with minimal disruption. Permanent or temporary fixings are chosen depending on the positioning of the plaque.