Paul C. Nicholson, a resident of Florida Presbyterian Homes, heard about our portrait carving class and stopped at the McArthur Center for a visit.  He had an interest in carving and was curious about our work.  During our chat with Paul, we learned that his Grandfather, William Gibson, was a carver.  William lived in Gimbey Lincolnshire, England before 1880.  He was a professional wood carver and once carved a piece for the Lincoln Cathedral.  The Lincoln Cathedral wanted to replace the decorative ends on their pews and called for carvers to submit a carved piece the carver believed would be suitable.  William responded with a beautiful carving of Janus.

      Janus is the Roman god of gates and doors, beginnings and endings, and therefore, he is represented with a double-faced head.  Each head is looking in opposite directions. Janus was worshipped at the beginning of the harvest time, planting, marriage, birth, and other types of beginnings, especially the beginnings of important events in a person's life.  Paul described Janus as the God of January, a beginning, looking forward and backward.  Janus also represents the transition between primitive life and civilization, between the countryside and the city, peace and war, and the growing-up of young people.  Unfortunately William Gibson, Paul's Great-grandfather was not awarded the contract.

       Paul told us the beautiful carving of Janus found a resting place at the home of his Aunt Gertrude.  Gertrude had a millinery store in Harrogate, England.  She was 96 years old in 1941 when she received the carving of Janus from William Gibson.  Janus served as a newel post at the bottom of a stairs inside her home.  Paul Nicholson, while visiting Gertrude, admired the carving and learned its history.  Aunt Gertrude told him that he could have the carving if he found a suitable replacement for the newel post.  Paul acquired a newel post and a carpenter to remove Janus from his perch and install the replacement. The carving, Janus, now resides at Paul Nicholson's home at the Florida Presbyterian Homes.

     We considered ourselves fortunate that Paul was curious enough about what was happening in our carving class to pay us a visit.  Janus, carved in mahogany wood, is beautiful.  It's detail would challenge any carver.  And, listening to Paul tell the story about the carving was a pleasant break from our intense work to complete our own portrait carvings before the class ended.  To take a virtual tour of the Lincoln Cathedral click here.