Wood Carving

Calloused hands hold tightly onto sharp instruments, hammering them into soft supple wood as the artisan skillfully exercises his craft and forms new impressive creations. The dust and wood chips fly into the air and the carcass of a tree is transformed. But in this operating room, not a single tear of sadness is shed, yet tears of joy and the birth of another fine piece of furniture or engraving makes the jaws of jealous onlookers open wide. Some of the finest extant examples of early wood carving are from the Middle Ages in Italy and France, where the typical themes of that era were Christian iconography. In England many complete examples remain from the 16th and 17th century, where oak was the preferred medium. The type of wood is important. Hardwoods are more difficult to shape but have greater luster and longevity. Softer woods may be easier to carve, but are less resistant to damage. Any wood can be carved but they all have different qualities and characteristics. This sound uses the following file from Freesound: http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=59961