The wonders of craftsmanship are very much present in the essence and core of Boca do Lobo and its furniture designs. Because they’re such a big part of our history and our legacy, Boca do Lobo Blog has decided to open the doors of its knowledge, one technique at a time, starting with the bases: Wood carving.
Wood Carving is one of the most ancient arts in Human History, it exists since the first men in prehistory, and it is considered the fundamental woodwork method. Carved designs appear in furniture design, in the building components of our homes and places of worship, in the household items we use daily and as mesmerizing and beautiful decorative sculptures.
All its techniques are connected to handcrafted woodworking and usually use a cutting tool in one hand, a chisel with both hands or a chisel with one hand and a mallet with the other. The wood carving techniques always create wooden figures or sculptural ornaments of wooden objects.
A talented master woodcarver needs to be able to adapt several different techniques and skills that take years of trial and error, practice and dedication to learn. This ancient art is always learnt with the experienced master artisans that pass their precious know-how to the young generations.
One of the problems woodwork sculptures in general have is the fact that its survival is harder than art pieces made of stone and bronze, for example. Wood is a living material that is vulnerable to decay, insect damage and fire. That’s why wooden works of art are so precious and must be taken care of gently. The ancient wooden sculptures that lasted until our days are true treasures to Art History.
See Also: Versailles Family – An Art Inspired Furniture Design
In wood carving, as in stone sculpting, the first step is to remove the excess of wood trying to obtain an outline of the final shape. The next steps involve more precise and detailed work. However, unlike stone sculpting, wood carving needs to chip according to the fibrous structure of the wood that is unique to each tree as it is affected by its growth.
For some master artisans, wood is an irreplaceable material that allows them to express their thoughts and imagination like no other. They need to have a deep connection and knowledge about wood to be able to bring to life the best possible art pieces using it.
Wood carving is a slow and hard activity that starts by using large cutting tools and ends with small blades. It is always a dedicated and detailed process that involves a lot of passion. The finest wood crafts come from the hands of the best master artisans that have not only the talent and skill but also the extent know-how of one of the most interesting materials ever used in art.
Stay with us to discover more wood carving wonders
See Also: Versailles Family – An Art Inspired Furniture Design
