Installing Old Masters at Chatham Historic Dockyard, Kent
Old masters work installed on a antique brass picture rail.
Gilbert Art Services recently expanded operations outside of our usual London postcodes to take on a prestigious project at The Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent.
This project required the absolute highest level of museum-quality precision: installing a collection of priceless Old Masters artworks within a newly refurbished, Grade-I listed historic building.
The Brief: Preservation & Historic Structure
When handling centuries-old artworks in a heritage setting, traditional drilling is rarely an option. The building features strict structural protections, meaning we could not fix hooks or brackets directly into the historic fabric of the walls.
Furthermore, the scale, weight, and antique frames of the Old Masters required a mounting system that could fully support the load while fitting in with the aesthetic of the original surroundings.
`We were therefore tasked with sourcing, supplying and installing a period hanging systems to hang the artworks.
The Solution: Bespoke Brass Picture Rails & Chains
To honour both the architecture and the artwork, our team utilised a traditional picture rails hanging system. Because period-accurate, heavy duty hardware can be difficult to find, Gilbert Art Services fully sourced and supplied the entire hardware system for this project.
Custom Hardware Sourcing: We specified and supplied premium-grade, heavy-duty brass picture rails designed to mirror the historic architecture, alongside matching, solid-brass hanging chains and ‘S’ hooks.
Weight Distribution & Security: The heavy, ornately framed canvases were suspended using these specialist brass J hooks and high-tensile chains dropped from the perimeter rails, ensuring maximum load capacity.
Visual Alignment: Utilising a traditional chain-and-rail system allows for small adjustments. Our installers perfectly aligned the sightlines of the collection, ensuring the works sit uniform across the gallery space.
Reversible Installation: This premium setup provides a seamless, high-end aesthetic that perfectly complements the maritime history of the Chatham Dockyard, while ensuring the underlying structural walls remain completely untouched and allowing flexibility if the collection ever needs to be changed.
Why Heritage Curators Trust Us: Our technicians are gallery-trained to understand the delicate balance between structural engineering and visual curation. We don't just provide an artwork installation team; we manage the process end-to-end: sourcing, supplying, and installing the exact specialist fixings required for a flawless finish.
Artwork installation installed at Chatham Historic Dockyard in Kent
Looking for Expert Art Installation?
While we are a premier art hanging service based in London, our team regularly travels throughout the surrounding areas for specialised, large-scale museum, commercial, and gallery projects. You can find more information on our picture rail services here!
From single heavy mirror placements in residential homes to complex, multi-room artwork installation projects in public galleries, Gilbert Art Services delivers unmatched precision.
Contact our picture hanging service team today for a tailored quote.
