The Fluidity of Wood Carving


Woodcarving is a form of woodworking using a one-handed cutting tool or two-handed chisel or with one hand on a chisel and one hand on a hammer, resulting in a figure or a wooden statuette, or in the sculptural ornament of a wooden object.

The phrase can also refer to the finished product, from the individual sculptures to the hand-worked moldings that make up a tunnel.

The manufacture of sculpture from wood has been widely practiced, but it does not survive intact like other major materials such as stone and bronze, as it is vulnerable to decay, insect damage and fire. . Therefore, it is an important hidden element in the art history of many cultures. Outdoor woodcarvings do not last long in most parts of the world, so it is not yet clear how the tradition of totem poles developed.

Many of the most important sculptures from China and Japan, in particular, are made of wood, as are the vast majority of sculptures from Africa, Oceania and other regions.

The wood is light and can take very fine detail, so it is ideal for masks and other carvings intended to be worn or carried. 

Some of the best extant examples of early European woodcarving date back to the Middle Ages in ermany, Russia, Italy and France, where typical themes of that time were Christian iconography. In England there remain many complete examples from the 16th and 17th centuries, where oak was the preferred medium.

The oldest carved wooden sculpture, the Idol of Shaggier carved from larch, is around 12,000 years old. Methods and Styles Florentine Carding Engineering Model, Block, Details, Outkicks and Lesage

Tools Basic Tools Set the Sculpture Knife:

A specialized knife used for a pulled wood, cut and smooth. The gouge: a tool with a curved cutting edge used in a variety of shapes and sizes to cut hollows, rounds and wide curves the cutting saw: a small saw that is used to cut pieces of wood along with the chisel:

Large and small, the straight edge of which is used for lines and cleaning flat surfaces. In North America, these are basswood and tupelo; both are hardwoods that are relatively easy to work with. Chestnut, butternut, oak, American walnut, mahogany and teak are also very good woods; while Italian walnut, sycamore maple, apple, pear, boxwood or plum are usually chosen for valuable works. Should be large, several pieces of wood can be laminated together to create the required size.

The type of wood is important. Hardwoods are more difficult to shape but have higher luster and longevity:


  • Softer woods can be easier to carve but are more prone to damage.
  • All woods can be carved but all have different qualities and characteristics.
  • The choice will depend on the carving needs you are making: for example a detailed figure would need a wood with a fine grain and very little figure as a strong figure can interfere with "reading" fine detail.
  • Your own wood begins a general shaping process using gouges of different sizes. The gouge is a curved blade that can easily remove large portions of wood.
  • For harder woods, the carver can use sharp gouges with stronger bevels, around 35 degrees, and a mallet similar to that of a stonemason.
  • The terms gouge and chisel are likely to cause confusion. Properly, a gouge is a tool with a curved cross section and a chisel is a tool with a flat cross section. However, professional carvers tend to call them all "chisels". Small carvings may require the use of a chisel knife.
  • Wood carver and larger pieces may require the use of a saw. Regardless of the wood selected or the tool used, the wood carver should always carve across or with the grain of the wood, never against the grain.
  • Once the general shape is made, the trolley can use various tools to create details.


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