Famed $1m Hannah Cabinet by master craftsman Geoff Hannah OAM to return to Lismore Regional Gallery after restoration
A much-loved Northern Rivers masterpiece damaged in the historic 2022 northern NSW floods is now in the restorative care of woodworking, fine arts and heritage experts.
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A much-loved Northern Rivers masterpiece damaged in the historic 2022 northern NSW floods is now in the restorative care of woodworking, fine arts and heritage experts.
The famed $1 million Hannah Cabinet, created by Lismore’s master craftsman Geoff Hannah OAM over six-and-a-half years, was a key loss among Lismore Regional Gallery artworks damaged by record flooding which smashed the region in early 2022.
The gallery describes the cabinet as “made in the traditional European style” with “34 different types of solid timbers and veneers, four kinds of rare shells and 17 varieties of precious and semiprecious stones, with the main frame being mahogany and the columns ebony”.
Fortunately, the cabinet fell back as floodwaters rose, saving its ornate front from direct water contact and more extensive damage.
A community fundraising campaign secured $1 million to purchase the cabinet to become part of the gallery’s permanent collection in 2018.
International Conservation Services’ (ICS) Julian Bickersteth AO will oversee the restoration, is trained in furniture conservation and has been closely involved in helping the gallery recover after the floods.
“Amidst the devastation of the Lismore floods, the fact that the Hannah Cabinet not only survived but was restorable has been a positive that we have held onto,” he said.
“Managing that restoration project is a great privilege and we look forward to having this unique and extraordinary cabinet back on display.”
Mr Hannah said he was pleased the cabinet was finally on the way to being fully restored by ICS at Chatswood.
“It was heartbreaking to see it immediately after the flood,” he said.
“Following restoration work by Mr Peters and Mr Fardon, I am confident the cabinet will be back to its original state.
“It will be a wonderful day when the public will be able to see it again.”
In the immediate aftermath of the floods, Patinations Conservation Services worked to stop deterioration and undertook initial restoration.
Furniture conservationist and director Greg Peters, who has a longstanding association with Mr Hannah, said it was “devastating to see the condition of the cabinet” when it arrived in his workshop.
“But with decades of experience of restoring national treasures and incorporating traditional techniques with state-of-the-art conservation equipment and methodology, our results to date have been extremely pleasing,” he said.
The initial stabilisation phase included cleaning, drying, and repeating remediation treatments. Phase two which required a complete dismantling of the cabinet and re-adhering veneers.
Colin Fardon, mentored by Mr Hannah for 18 years and now consulting with him, is working with Mr Peters on polishing and regilding, further repairs, final assembly and adjustments of operating timber components.
“I was fortunate enough to see the Hannah Cabinet being created over six years,” Mr Fardon said.
“It has been the single most inspirational piece to me and my career.
“To now be asked to work on the restoration is an honour. I am ready for the many challenges ahead and look forward to seeing it proudly on display looking amazing again.”
The restoration covered by insurance is expected to take up to two-and-a-half years.
Lismore City Council Mayor Steve Krieg said the fundraising campaign showed how much the Hannah Cabinet was loved in the regional hub.
“Like the reopening of the Lismore Regional Gallery, the return of the restored Hannah Cabinet will be welcomed by our community,” he said.
“The only question now is where we locate this important cultural asset (in the gallery) once it is restored.”
Gallery director Ashleigh Ralph said the cabinet could not be in better hands.
“It has been a long journey to get to this point, and I’m thrilled the recovery of the cabinet is in the expert hands of Bickersteth, Peters and Fardon and Hannah himself,” she said.
“I know it will be restored to its former glory, with the story of Lismore now embedded in its legacy.”
The Hannah Cabinet inspired one of the gallery’s major exhibitions, Hannah Halle, which is on display until November 17.
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Originally published as Famed $1m Hannah Cabinet by master craftsman Geoff Hannah OAM to return to Lismore Regional Gallery after restoration
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