BRAID ALTAR FRAME
Church of the Immaculate Conception, Kamnik, Šutna | 1951
. . . an elegant solution . . . which did not only solve the technical problem but brought to the frame the subtle symbolism which Plečnik held so dear. . .
Bergant came up with an elegant solution. . .
Bergant carved this braid frame in 1951 in gratitude for the birth of his son. The carver had divided the frame into concave elements but when he assembled them, it gapped at the inner angles. Bergant came up with an elegant solution – he closed the gaps with stylised AM (Ave Maria) monographs, which did not only solve the technical problem but brought to the frame the subtle symbolism which Plečnik held so dear.
An excerpt from the book "WOODCARVER MAKS BERGANT, A LIFE DEDICATED TO BEAUTY"
Author:
Miklavž Komelj
Artwork Specifications:
Each frame side carved from one block of limewood | Gold leaf gilded | Shiny Finish
Photo:
Žiga Mihelčič
Bergant was recommended to Plečnik as the best woodcarver in Kamnik by friar Martin Perc, who commissioned the architect in 1947 to redesign the church of St. Benedict in Stranje, which had been severely damaged during the war.
The most subtle achievement of this relationship remains the frame which Bergant made for a copy of Our Lady of Brezje kept at the Kamnik church at Šutna, for which Plečnik had designed the base.
Plečnik was fascinated by the solution and wrote to Bergant. . .
Plečnik was fascinated by the solution and wrote to Bergant in a letter dated 18th September 1954: “[S]incere compliments for your work on the copy of Our Lady of Brezje for the church at Šutna! You certainly made some fierce and passionate cuts there – !” He insisted that the work was of such beauty that it should not be left hanging on the wall; to pull his weight, he designed a base of foliage ornaments gently embracing a winged face, which was also carved by Bergant. The design for this small-scale work was an open compliment to Bergant’s mastery.
Two extracts from Plečnik’s letters. . .
Two extracts from Plečnik’s letters are vital for the understanding of the architect’s relationship with Bergant; the first one dates back to 1948:
You are often in my thoughts, and I regret that we live in such tight-fisted times – I would have liked to make complete use of you –
The other one is dated 1949:
I know how honest you are in everything, and in this I find enough pleasure, some comfort in this devilishly deranged time.
"You certainly made some fierce and passionate cuts there – !"
Honourable Sir
Woodcarver Maks Bergant
Kamnik
My dear friend – It is Saturday, 18th September!
Comrade Bitenc should be in Celje today. If he comes to Kamnik tomorrow, it can’t be helped. It would be fine if I could come to you on Wednesday, for a shot of schnapps and to talk about the colour. Until we meet, I send you warm greetings and sincere compliments for your work on the copy of Our Lady of Brezje for the church at Šutna! You certainly made some fierce and passionate cuts there – ! Our common friend is nowhere to be seen, or heard! Can it be that he is in jail again?
Death is the only certainty in life – and to get there, one must endure all sorts of things.
Greetings to you and your wife, and all the best!
Yours, Plečnik
[18th September 1954. “Our common friend” is Friar Martin Perc.]
