Manual of Traditional Wood Carving

by Paul N. Hasluck (Editor)

Do you want to make an exact replica of a 16th-century carved table? Perhaps, an armchair in carved oak? Maybe, a misericord seat or a 17th-century chair. What about an Italian cassone or coffer, or an ornate 19th-century pipe rack? This book will show you how to make these and many other projects. The book combines practical instruction with numerous photographic illustrations and working diagrams. The summation of years of research and practical work, this volume is the definitive work in English on the craft of traditional wood carving.
For the serious-minded beginner, the instructional content is well-organized, easy-to-follow, and very precise. The authors begin with the what tools and appliances are necessary, what woods to use, instruction in the actual cutting of wood. There are chapters on how to translate your ideas into wood, how to design, trace or outline your project. The various methods of practical carving are described; incised, pierced, and chip carving; carving in the round; Gothic carving; styles of carved ornament; etc. Many specific projects are from the simplest — small boxes, bread platters, chests, chairs and stools — to the more complex — tables, cupboards and cabinets, beds, sideboards, even staircases, or for that matter, almost any item you can imagine in wood.
Authoritative, complete, and profusely illustrated with 1,146 working drawings and photographic examples, it contains a wealth of encyclopedic information. There is much here you could find nowhere else.

Genres: Nonfiction, Woodwork, Art

568 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1977

About the author

Paul Nooncree Hasluck
1854-1931

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

They just don't write 'em like this any more. Reprinted from the edition of one century ago (!), this is a thorough, fundamental, and very satisfying discussion of woodcarving. It covers the tools, the techniques, the structural properties of different woods, etc., etc. I got this from the library, but will definitely be buying a copy of this.

[Dan Carey]

Interesting from a historical perspective. But not nearly as useful as a combination of other books: Chris Pye's books, Decorative Woodcarving, etc., which have illustrations of more use to the beginner. A professional woodcarver or seriously experienced avocational carver may find the patterns and suggestions useful. But I think few others would.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A conglomeration of drawings photographs(black and white) and photographic illustrations.
It would have been nice if the people who assembled this book would have associated some kind of dates with these pictures. It covers the hand tools and shows the various cuts and how to hold tools. More patterns then you can imagine, some looking really old, complex, ornate, you name it. Stools, chairs, cupboards, cabinets and more. I had bought the book thinking I was going to do this a bit more but I had no passion for it nor as much patience to do anything so complex. Tearouts and crossgrain are just murder on perfection.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carving for Victorians, a reprint from a 19th century book. Find it online, it's long out of copyright.