Classic Woodcarvings

[pallin]

Hi fellow carvers,
I just returned from England and want to share some photos of classic woodcarving. These were taken of screens (space dividers) in chapels in London and Cambridge. They were carved 600 to 800 years ago, in oak or other very hard woods. They are deep relief, often pierced, and incredibly detailed. And the names of these craftsmen are lost to history!
Carving1.jpg

Carving2.jpg

Carving3.jpg

[RUssL.]

My goodness!
Breathtaking.
Astounding.

Thank you for posting these images.

RussL.

[woodtrapper]

Can you imagine the primitive tools used back then and with such detail.Unreal

[Robert Cahill]

beautiful. Like woodtrapper said unreal with the tools they had. Thanks for sharing your pictures. 50 years ago while in the military I was in the Germany in the black forest area and took a tour.One church I was in had some fabulous carving I have always regretted not taking pictures

[woodtrapper]

I visited some catholic churches in Spain in 1983 and was overwhelmed with the carvings then.They were very old churches and it just hard to understand how that work was acompolished.

[susieq]

One very well know carver of that era was Grindling Gibbons. I believe there is a book written about him with photos of his work. I am fairly sure he did work for the royal family.

[Ashbys]

Excellent photos ,

I felt they should be place where people should see them more so I move the thread to here so when looking they would be seen and never lost .


Outstanding

Ash

[carvendive]

Here is a online source that I check out. It covers more than just carvings but it does have quite a bit on carved pieces. It also addresses different aspects of restoration.

Victoria and Albert Museum