[mark yundt]

I did this piece just about 10 yrs ago. Carving isn't the greatest but was an interesting design. Got it back because the clients broke it in several pieces. So I got it back together for them again. It's 41 inches long X 8 1/2 inches tall,done in one piece of basswood.
The name is the clients wifes maiden name and family shield.Really neat room where this goes as well as some other pieces I did for them. If I can I'll photo them when I deliver this.Thought it might be interesting to see.

[Merle Rice]

Hi Mark,You say the Carving isn't that great? That looks pretty darn good from this angle. Nice work. Merle

[Jim OH]

Hi Mark,
Ten years ago ya could still put me to shame. Guess I'm a slow learner LOL. The piece sure looks great to me!
Jim OH

[GaryMc]

Looks like a wonderful carving to me Mark! You're the best!
GaryMc

[AlArchie]

Not only a great carving, but now it's gaining status as an "aged piece"!

Al

[gene messer]

Mark .. we could all be so lucky to carved something like that ten years ago ..

beautiful piece and excellent leaves ,,

Gene

[mark yundt]

Thanks guys,,you made my day! Truthfully though,,I think the photo's make it look better than it really is...then again,,aren't we all our own worst critics? I guess I see what I could do with something like this today but it's really a moot point. It is what it is.And the clients still love it.

[squbrigg]

Mark, yer too hard on yourself. That's a nice carving, love the flowing vine work and crest! Well done.

Bob

[RussL.]

Neat to see that what I have read about doing heraldry pieces and crests is true; that they should be made with the idea of future repairs built into both design and execution... 'cause somewhere down the lilne somebody in the family is going to break some part of it or another!

Lovely piece, boss.

All the best,

Russ

[mark yundt]

I guess that could be true. I though simply come up with a design and then carve that. It's pretty hard to guess what someone could do to damage something. This ,for example ,was in 8 pieces. I couldn't have anticipated that. So design something you and the client like,,then make it.

A side note as far a breaking pieces goes. On many occasions,,even when I made this one,,I purposely broke it.I almost always do that especially where the design is captured in a circular design. For example,,Acanthus leaves swirling in a complete circular design in the middle of a run. Rather than try scrollsawing or jig sawing out the center of a design I'll just cut into the outline of the piece and snap it there. Not cut it,,snap it.

I'll also do this on a long piece such as this. Now 40 some inches isn't very long,,but I can't maneuver it through a band saw in one piece and still make all the cuts. SOOOOO,,,cut to the line and snap it in two,,three or five pieces,,,whatever it takes.Carve them ,,reassemble and it's seamless looking to all the world that is was,,and is,,one piece.Now this one is painted,,but even if it's stained and left natural,,the seems are invisible.

Neat Huh?

Ahhhh,,,so that's how you do it!