Let’s talk about woodcarvingAdministrator2020-02-03T16:00:40-05:00
Discussions on this forum are membership-run. I (Mary May) will monitor conversations and will try and contribute as needed. However, I can't guarantee that I will always have time to keep up with the discussions. Please feel free to contribute, as the only way this forum will be successful is if members get involved! I will also be the "judge and juror" with inappropriate, rude, or offensive behavior, so play nice!
What carvings float your boat
Greg Howlett@roosterinthegarden
33 Posts
Quote from Greg Howlett on November 11, 2017, 4:37 am
Feel free to upload photos of carvings you have found out in the wild, and the story behind them. My first photo was taken at an Auction rooms not far from where I live, about six months ago. It was on a wardrobe panel.
I attempted to carve a crocodile this year (unsuccessfully) about two weeks later I purchased the Crocodile/Aligator. It's a dark heavy wood, and has Mother of pearl inlays? Its intresting because on the underside some of the insides of the animal are carved. The back bone and intestine. There is a lot of cheap tourist carving foud in Australia, from the pacific islands. But this dosn't look cheap. The patterns on the animal remind me of native South American art? Would appreciate if anyone could provide any information.
Please upload any carvings that you want to share.
Feel free to upload photos of carvings you have found out in the wild, and the story behind them. My first photo was taken at an Auction rooms not far from where I live, about six months ago. It was on a wardrobe panel.
I attempted to carve a crocodile this year (unsuccessfully) about two weeks later I purchased the Crocodile/Aligator. It's a dark heavy wood, and has Mother of pearl inlays? Its intresting because on the underside some of the insides of the animal are carved. The back bone and intestine. There is a lot of cheap tourist carving foud in Australia, from the pacific islands. But this dosn't look cheap. The patterns on the animal remind me of native South American art? Would appreciate if anyone could provide any information.
Please upload any carvings that you want to share.
Uploaded files:
Matthew Mizner@mattm
242 Posts
Quote from Matthew Mizner on November 11, 2017, 1:38 pm
Greg,
Really neat find on the crocodile. It looks like oceanic art to me...could be from any of the pacific islands. Which is why it has that South American look to it you mentioned. Try doing a google search on carved oceanic art and maybe add Malaysia or Polynesia to your search. It will probably lead you in the right direction. Let us know if you find anything out about it. Maybe even hit up your local museum by email or footing it over there...they will have someone who could help.
Cheers!
Greg,
Really neat find on the crocodile. It looks like oceanic art to me...could be from any of the pacific islands. Which is why it has that South American look to it you mentioned. Try doing a google search on carved oceanic art and maybe add Malaysia or Polynesia to your search. It will probably lead you in the right direction. Let us know if you find anything out about it. Maybe even hit up your local museum by email or footing it over there...they will have someone who could help.
Cheers!
SmokyRick Crawford@smokyrick
72 Posts
Quote from SmokyRick Crawford on November 12, 2017, 10:36 am
OK - here are some pictures of what we have around our house. The first is a chair we got from a friend of the family. It was made in Italy and I am guessing before 1950, but not really sure.
We had it re-upholstered many years ago (maybe about 40?) because the seat cover had fallen apart. I always liked this chair and it is one of our favorite items.
OK - here are some pictures of what we have around our house. The first is a chair we got from a friend of the family. It was made in Italy and I am guessing before 1950, but not really sure.
We had it re-upholstered many years ago (maybe about 40?) because the seat cover had fallen apart. I always liked this chair and it is one of our favorite items.
Uploaded files:SmokyRick Crawford@smokyrick
72 Posts
Quote from SmokyRick Crawford on November 12, 2017, 10:43 am
Here is a Singer sewing machine that we have used for many years also. I like the carving on the drawers which is also on the front.
Here is a Singer sewing machine that we have used for many years also. I like the carving on the drawers which is also on the front.
Uploaded files:SmokyRick Crawford@smokyrick
72 Posts
Quote from SmokyRick Crawford on November 12, 2017, 10:48 am
This is a china cabinet that was given to my wife 20-30 years ago. It has some interesting feet. They seem to have toes on 3 sides of each foot, only the back side is without toes. Also has a nice upper crest rail on the door. The cabinet has curved glass on each side and a curved glass in the door as well. Also has leaded glass on the upper door.
This is a china cabinet that was given to my wife 20-30 years ago. It has some interesting feet. They seem to have toes on 3 sides of each foot, only the back side is without toes. Also has a nice upper crest rail on the door. The cabinet has curved glass on each side and a curved glass in the door as well. Also has leaded glass on the upper door.
Uploaded files:SmokyRick Crawford@smokyrick
72 Posts
Quote from SmokyRick Crawford on November 12, 2017, 10:56 am
One last thing we have is an old side table. This is now out on the porch as it is in such bad shape. It was probably very nice when made, however. If you can look past the faults, you can see the love that went into making it. The top was inlayed with several different colors of wood to make the pattern. The feet are dog-chewed, as is lots of the lower section. The inlay is mostly messed up from age and misuse.
One last thing we have is an old side table. This is now out on the porch as it is in such bad shape. It was probably very nice when made, however. If you can look past the faults, you can see the love that went into making it. The top was inlayed with several different colors of wood to make the pattern. The feet are dog-chewed, as is lots of the lower section. The inlay is mostly messed up from age and misuse.
Uploaded files:Matthew Mizner@mattm
242 Posts
Quote from Matthew Mizner on November 12, 2017, 1:18 pm
Wow Rick, you have some beautiful pieces! Thanks for sharing those.
Wow Rick, you have some beautiful pieces! Thanks for sharing those.
MaryMay@marymay
453 Posts
Quote from MaryMay on November 14, 2017, 8:23 pm
Thanks for sharing those! So beautiful. (Did you notice all the lovely acanthus leaves?)
I love to go into antique stores and wander through seeing what surprises show up on furniture. The more you know and understand the challenges and intricacies of woodcarving, the more you can detect when a piece was carved lovingly by a true artist, or just someone who hacked it out on an assembly line. After finding the challenges of getting that background carved flat, or cleaning out those tight, inside corners, you really begin to appreciate the effort that was put into some of these pieces.
Thanks for sharing those! So beautiful. (Did you notice all the lovely acanthus leaves?)
I love to go into antique stores and wander through seeing what surprises show up on furniture. The more you know and understand the challenges and intricacies of woodcarving, the more you can detect when a piece was carved lovingly by a true artist, or just someone who hacked it out on an assembly line. After finding the challenges of getting that background carved flat, or cleaning out those tight, inside corners, you really begin to appreciate the effort that was put into some of these pieces.
SmokyRick Crawford@smokyrick
72 Posts
Quote from SmokyRick Crawford on November 17, 2017, 8:31 am
That is all the carvings I could find around our house. Hopefully others will share also.
Through the years, I have done some artistic blacksmithing, repousse', woodworking, sheet metal work, welding, engineering, etc. but it is amazing where and how often you find acanthus leaves as a decorative element.
That is all the carvings I could find around our house. Hopefully others will share also.
Through the years, I have done some artistic blacksmithing, repousse', woodworking, sheet metal work, welding, engineering, etc. but it is amazing where and how often you find acanthus leaves as a decorative element.
MaryMay@marymay
453 Posts
Quote from MaryMay on November 17, 2017, 10:41 pm
SmokyRick, watch out... once you've opened that door to acanthus leaves, they jump out at you!
SmokyRick, watch out... once you've opened that door to acanthus leaves, they jump out at you!
