Carving is the art of cutting figures, ornaments, or decorative objects by hand from such materials as stone, marble, wood, ivory, bone, and shell. The term sculpture applies to large carvings in stone, marble, or wood. The term carving is also used for small sculptures and for decorations carved on furniture or parts of building interiors or exteriors.
Early history.
The art of carving is older than recorded history. Archaeologists have found examples of carved bone and horn that early peoples made during the Stone Age. The ancient Egyptians cut beautiful objects from wood, ivory, alabaster, stone, turquoise, and other materials. Many such pieces are remarkable because they were carved from extremely hard stone, such as diorite or porphyry. Egyptian craftworkers made gems with intaglios—that is, with designs cut in their surfaces. People used the gems to make an impression in sealing wax.
Mesopotamian civilizations also used intaglios. The ancient Sumerians and Babylonians carved cylinder seals from colored stone. When these seals were rolled over soft clay, they left impressions. Early peoples in the Western Hemisphere also made use of carving. The Aztec, Maya, and Zapotec Indians chiseled figures on stone pyramids. These tribes also carved in jade and obsidian (volcanic glass).
Many Native Americans of Alaska and Canada carved wood. The Haida people of the Northwest Coast were famous totem-pole makers and were known for their high-prowed canoes.
The Greeks and Romans carved precious stones. They also worked with ivory and produced many pieces of beautiful sculpture. Japanese craftworkers became noted for their ivory figures and fans.
The early Christians in Egypt, called Copts, used carved wood for ceilings and for screens. Woodcarving spread throughout the Arab world and into Spain. Outstanding examples of Arabic achievements in carving include the Mudejar wood ceiling in the Archbishop’s Palace in Alcala de Henares, Spain, and the carved wooden interior of the Alhambra in Granada, Spain (see Alhambra ). The latter contains especially beautiful arches, ceilings, and doors. The carved ceiling of the Capella Palatina in Palermo, Sicily, is another masterpiece.
Later carvings.
Woodcarvers decorated church stalls in Gothic churches. They also produced simple, sturdy, and massive pieces of furniture during the Gothic period. During the Italian Renaissance, craftworkers paneled rooms with carved decorations. Such artists as Michelangelo and Donatello carved masterpieces in marble. Baroque and Rococo architecture also featured carvings of wood.
Asian art has produced many examples of carving. The Ajanta Caves in India, which artists cut out of cliffs, contain examples of great artistry. So do many Asian temples. Craftworkers decorated outside walls of many of these structures. They also carved figures on stone stelae, or pillars, to tell religious stories. The decorations of the Taj Mahal are another example of this art (see Taj Mahal ). They include delicate paneling and pierced marble windows and screens. The Chinese used simple tools to produce many beautiful jade pieces (see Jade ).
Carved masks are outstanding examples of art from Africa. Islanders in the South Pacific Ocean work with simple tools to make ceremonial objects, as well as everyday tools and utensils. Craftworkers carve intricate decorations on houses, coconut shells, and canoe prows.
Carving as a hobby.
The beginner usually prefers to carve in materials that are easy to cut. Woodcarving has always been popular for most beginners. A form of gypsum called alabaster is easy to carve and takes a high polish. Soap is an inexpensive and easily carved material.
