How does a carver earn the title of "Master Woodcarver?"

[CosmoQ]

I enjoyed the thread, "What Makes a Woodcarver a Woodcarver" and I'm curious about the title: "Master Woodcarver." It sounds like a person becomes a "Master Woodcarver" after some kind of "certification." Can you please clarify this? Does the woodcarver have to "pass" a test or carve so many pieces or become "Professional?" What "qualification" must be met to warrant the title?
Thanks,
CosmoQ

[pallin]

The term "master" has been applied to many of the trades - carpenters, plumbers, electricians, etc., but is not used much now. A craftsman became a "master" by serving an apprenticeship under the supervision of a master craftsman and practicing the trade for years. We do not have such a system in woodcarving in the U.S. but it is an informal status usually bestowed by others on carvers of exceptional ability.

[mobjack68]

the apprenticeship program originated in Europe, somewhat during the Renaissance. A master tradesman (stonemason, boatbuilder, woodcarver/woodworker, etc, etc...) would take on several people that would be the apprentice. The apprentices would do the minor work and the monies generated by the work of the apprentice would go to the master. When the apprentices would "graduate", when their skills were sufficient, they would be called "journeymen" and they would go on to work for someone else and they would have been paid or their work. At some point, some would progress to the master level and would then take on apprentices to teach and make money for the work they did. The skills they leaned would make them valuable if people desired something created by them. Obviously their earning potential was determined by the master they served under......consider a journeyman that would have apprenticed under....Michaelangelo.......or Leonardo da Vinci.....or Stradivarius


I would say in this day and age????? Call yourself a "master carver" if you so desire...I have been carving since 1983, dose this make me a master?? or do I need to harken to days of old and serve an apprenticeship with a recognized carver????

[Donsexton]

This is an interesting thread, Now days we have many different styles of woodcarving. I consider myself a journeyman at my style and my style is a mix of three different woodcarving styles. Would one need to master all styles to be called a master woodcarver?

[Josef]

I used to go to school with Johnny Carver and our teacher always referred to him as Master Carver....

[Paul_Guraedy]

The apprenticeship system was still being used in the first quarter of the 20th century, at least in Cajun Country. My grandfather was an apprentice blacksmith in the late 19th century, moved thrrough the journeyman level to master and had apprentice's in the early 1900's. Usually the apprentice had to leave home and come to the master who was responsible for room and board until he left as a journeyman. In many trades the master was also responsible for furnishing the apprentice with a set of basic tools of the trade for use as a journeyman.

Certainly the apprentice's entry at the journeyman level was enhanced by the reputation of the master. But, the master's reputation also rode on the skills of the apprentice's work as a journeyman.

We are still fairly close to that system. If you look closely at our work, the influence of our mentors is there. Although I have developed something of my own style, I paint pretty much as taught by John Engler, form my feathers along the lines of Marlen Downing, and animals follow the methodology of Debbe Edwards.

[mobjack68]

Originally Posted by Paul_Guraedy

Usually the apprentice had to leave home and come to the master who was responsible for room and board until he left as a journeyman. In many trades the master was also responsible for furnishing the apprentice with a set of basic tools of the trade for use as a journeyman.

Certainly the apprentice's entry at the journeyman level was enhanced by the reputation of the master. But, the master's reputation also rode on the skills of the apprentice's work as a journeyman.

Great info Paul, We still see vestiges of the system in some parts of life...Is not a law degree from Yale or Harvard more valued than a law degree from East Appalachian Community Law School and Taxi Stand???

Paul, along with what you are saying about the tools...an apprentice woodwright would have been required to create his own tool box and as many wooden tools as he could (mallets, wood body planes, layout tools, etc..etc) and as a journeyman his tools box would be his "calling card" and would have been hired based on the care and quality of his own tools. He would have been judged on what the prospective employer would have seen...the box construction, degree of tool care, etc.

Donsexton...We also need to consider that carving, whether it be stone or wood, really flourished during the Renaissance and what were they carving?? Mostly religious icons...the Church (church universal, AND look at the collection owned by the catholic church...the Vatican and beyond) were the only folks that could AFFORD to hire/employ/pay some of the best carvers and their carvings were put into furniture, construction members of the building itself, inside and outside and of course, their rendition of the events of the life and death of Christ. Don, when you ask about "all styles" of carving....I don't think they sat around carving little hobos with their hands in their pockets or stylized dolphins swimming in a pod (YES...I have carved these....I am picking on me) I'm not saying they didn't carve barnyard animals, I don't think the apprentices learned to "swing a chisel" on a carving of the distressed face of Christ, but they were close when the master plied his trade.

I think we are all masters pretty much when we decide we are, who else is qualified to judge us??? Even when we win blue ribbons are we not still critical of our own work and do we still strive to be "just a little better"...I am afraid I am caught in the journeyman vortex "ad imperpatuitum" (pretty much forever)

[arfer1943]

May I suggest that, having MASTERED your trade or craft, then your peers might give you the prefix Master to your trade or craft.

[Lynn O. Doughty]

When I was just a youngster a lot of the oldsters called me Master. Now that I'm old a lot of the youngsters call me Mister. That always makes me feel old. Neither title makes me a better carver.

[mdallensr]

Under the formal European system, a Master Carver needs to demonstrate mastery of all forms of carving and carving tools. I consider the title Master Carver, in the absence of a system to test or qualify someone as a "Master", is something others should bestow on a carver they perceive to be fully capable. It's kind of like the title "Don" in Spanish culture; it's not something you call yourself, it's earned by your actions and reputation. Mike