Another Mantle

mark yundt · #1 06-20-2008, 05:52 PM

This job just came in yesterday afternoon. It's the main fireplace for the Philadelphia Cricket Club. In the shots you can see the pile of Mahogany they dropped off,,,there are 6 turnings and carvings in 2 sizes,,a cartouche,about 12 ft of moldings with an interesting design you might be able to make out in the plans in the photos. Also are several shots of the Architectural details found on the building that will be used as a reference for the capitals,,the center panels and other elements found on the fireplace.

And yes...I'm still working on the two other fireplaces for the Hunting Lodge,,Just have to get this one out of here in 1 to 2 weeks max,,,that's the time limit they gave me.Glad I got the Prodigal Son out of here when I did.

mdallensr · #2 06-20-2008, 06:49 PM

That's just amazing. I'd get such a knot in my guts if I had to do that tough of a project in such a short period of time. It's the main reason I've never sold a carving. I don't want to turn an enjoyable hobby into a chore or a liability. You pros have my respect and admiration. Good luck on the mantle. Mike

gene messer · #3 06-20-2008, 09:48 PM

Mark .. If anyone could do this project .. it would be you .. complicated to some of us .. but a challenge to you ..

Cant wait to see this beauty finished ..

Gene

doris · #4 06-21-2008, 02:27 AM

hey, a lot of eyecandy you give us today, mark :-) ... ah, just 1 or 2 weeks and such a huge pile of wood, i just would freak out...maybe i could get the molding carved in that time ;-) ... glad to see you got many, and even more glad you got so interesting projects to work on....i definitely need learn where here are clients like you have... (and how i make them give me such projects, in a much bigger timeframe though...lol...)

squbrigg · #5 06-21-2008, 06:28 AM

Big project Mark. Business is booming for you. Nice to see folks appreciate quality carved work and are willing to spend the money to achieve it. Good luck on the projects.

Bob

mark yundt · #6 06-21-2008, 09:42 AM

I do hope you understand I don't have to build the entire Mantle,,I only have to do the capitals.molding,frieze panel.cartouche the turned columns and the carvings on the tops of the big ones. Someone else is doing all the flat lay up work,,I only do the carving. The guy doing the other work sent me this wood. I don't buy it,,glue it up ,,or install it. I simply carve it and ship it back.

Well Mike,,,I was fortunate to turn an enjoyable hobby into an enjoyable business. I guess after running into this situation so often,,and knowing what I can get done it no longer really phases me. Usually the only reason I take longer on some jobs is because they overlap quite a bit stretching out their completion times and it seems to justify pricing a bit more. For example if I were to knock out 10 grand worth of carving in a week they might get suspicious,,but if I drag it out over a month or so,,,well it just looks like I actually worked for it.

makinchips · #7 06-21-2008, 01:29 PM

Nice score Mark!!

Carving has been a long time career for me as well and for 30 years I've always wondered if it was ever going to run dry........obviously not yet.

Always enjoy seeing your work!!!

Thanks for posting.

Joe,

Make Chips!

mark yundt · #8 06-21-2008, 05:27 PM

Yes Joe,,I wonder that all the time,will it run dry. This year especially with the economy and all that's going on. As I've said before,,if this is a recession I'd like to have one every year. I've never seen so much work before.

But I'm not complaining! It lets me do what I love.

Do you have a website? I searched the galleries for your work and couldn't find any pics. Of course I'm not too good with this machine,,I might have done something wrong,,,but I would like to see what you do,,it always fascinates me with all the types of wood working out there that people find a way to make a living at.

makinchips · #9 06-22-2008, 10:03 AM

Mark,

I've been through 3 recessions. The first one was in '79-'82. That is actually when I left my last "real" job. All of them have been very good for me. Money that is spent during these times is spent on quality. Art is always a good investment and these are the times when artists do best.

I do have a web site but it really stinks. I had nothing to do with making it so it doesn't really represent my work accuratly. Primarily I do relief carvings of wildlife and country themes but will carve most anything for a buck.

Here are three that I have all ready posted on this board....I think you'll get the idea.

Signs, (small house markers) are also part of my offerings. The deer motif above went on a sign.....

I've also restricted my writings to the Sign Magazines and only teach to that industry. As a matter of fact, a step by step of the deer sign is being published this month.

It's great to "meet", up with another pro.....it's been a long search for me.
Keep up with the great work (I know you will) and I'm looking foward to seeing this mantle emerge.

Regards,

Joe,

Make Chips!

mark yundt · #10 06-22-2008, 11:02 AM

Thanks Joe,,I appreciate the background. I have seen these pieces on the site,,wonderful work.
My site is nothing to brag about either. What pics I do have on there is mostly from a bunch of old 35mm pictures,,when and if I remembered to photograph something. For me it's not a sales site,,it's more of an on line photo album. For the year and a half it's been up I'm not sure of it's real value as most of my work comes from other sources. Of course I don't actively advertise it,,so it is what it is.
Thanks again for your info,,and best of luck to you.