Ornamental woodcarving is the art of shaping
ornaments, furniture, statues, and utensils from wood, by the use of drills,
abrasives and cutting tools. Wood is a light and soft medium that can be shaped
into different styles and looks. Wood has tensile strength and enables a
craftsman to join separate pieces with ease.
The beauty of its versatile textures and grain allows the carving to
have both an antique and a modern contemporary look.
Thehistory of ornamental wood sculptures has
been distorted by the arbitrary survival of wooden carved pieces that were
vulnerable to fire, dampness and vermin. Ornamental wood carved pieces today
are given a strong finishing with files, sandpaper and rasps, that help in
preserving it’s look. They can also be gilded directly or with plaster and
painted/polished to make them last forever. Contemporary wood carving utilizes
tools like Veiners and sharpened knives, as well as laser cutting tools.
History
of Ornamental Woodcarving:
Decorative wood carving has always beena medium of artistic expression,
compelling different forms as per the sharpness of tools used and the hardness
of wood. In Asia, wood has been used as a vigorous sculpture material,
specifically in China, India and Japan.
Rich ornamental wood carvings were originally discovered in
the regions of Indonesia. The Islamic culture used this form of ornamentation
for the depiction of beauty, strength and culture. The native pacific culture -
Melanesian, Maori, and New Guinean - is regarded for its native wood carving
presented mostly in ceremonial furniture and domestic architecture. The totem
poles found at northwestern coast serve as clan and family emblems, sometimes
used to relate to the hierarchies of animals and gods. The African
ornamentation of wood wereused for idol worshiping and ceremonial masks.
Techniques
Ornamental carving encompasses several
techniques; some of them are presented below:
Chip
Carving
Chip carving is the oldest decorative
carving method. The technique involves removal of wooden chips to develop
patterns. Chip carving patterns are mostly repetitive, such as geometrical
shapes or curves.
Intaglio
In intaglio carving the desired
pattern or design is carved in recess. The surrounding wood surface is either
left untouched or is painted/polished for beautification. Intaglio carving is mostly
seen on furniture and decorative wooden items.
Relief
Carving
In relief carving the object, pattern or
design is formed by extracting the outer surfaces. The desired object is raised
whereas the surrounding is in recess. High relief wood carvings are mostly seen
in architectural ornamentation. Ancient buildings, cathedrals and castles
havewooden high relief ornamentation.
Pierced
Relief
In pierced relief there is no surrounding or
plain surface area except the desired design. Carved areas are removed
completely. The tool used in pierced relief carving is the sharpest and are
known as V tools.
Addition
of Stones and Glass
In the olden days, wooden carving mostly
involved wood as the only medium. Over the last century, however, wood carving
has evolved and embellished with iron, glass and stones. Such carvings were
mostly found in Indian temples. Contemporary furniture and wooden mosaics also
use glass and stones in relief wood carvings for enhanced adornment.
