C H IP C A R V IN G

H ARRIS W . MOORE

Su pervisor of M a n u a l Tra ining

Wa te rtown , M a ssa chusetts

THE MANUAL ARTS PRESS A LL N PEORI , I I OIS o ri C py ght, 1 922

RR M HA IS W. OORE

Printed in Unaa i sum of America CONTENTS

IN TRODU CTION TOOLS A N D GEN ERAL DIRECTION S

E TWO H T G PH C ASELS, , P O O RA OR POST ARD

T H CK H TH TT N OOT PI OLDER, REE PA ER S GLOVE Bo x CHECKER BOARD PIN TRA) B x STAM P o .

CARD CASE . BLOTTER PEG M ORREL )GAM E BOAR D) F o x A ND GEESE )GAM E BOARD)

T M M T M UN TS TWO TT N S HER O E ER O , PA ER PIPE RACK

HA N DKER CHIEP Box .

WHISKB ROOM HOLDER

PICTURE FRAM E .

T PH M PHO OGRA FRA E . WHISKB ROOM HOLDER WASTE BASKET

P KNIVE T PA ER S, HR EE OF C EXAMPLES PRIMITIVE ARVING .

The ph o to gra phs on th e two fo llow in g pages sh o w speci

n loca ted o me s of chip carving now in the Peab dy Museum ,

Harvard University .

1 c n a l a d z fr NO . is a eremo i om Mangaia Island in the i Hervey Group in the South Pac fic . It is about a yard long. a of an o o a The lower p rt the h dle is h ll w and perfor ted , the i remainder deeply ncised .

2 or Va vi o No . is a ceremonial tribute paddle from ta Island in the Australian Group . A lens will help to bring out the beauty o f its ca rving . Notice that bands emphasize the center and outline of the paddle and that the )unction of the shaft and blade is seemingly strengthened by horizonta l rows

n o of incisions as tho bound with cords . The blade is t flat

o but curved b th transversely and longitudinally .

3 o In NO . notice the beauty of the marvelous repetiti n , yet o r here also are the bands den ting structu e .

6 f o NO . is from Mangaia Island and shows beauti ul w rk manship thruout . The )ade head is bound to the handle with braided cord in an elaborate and skillful manner . This

s a handle , like everal others not shown , st nds as erect as a n hi column , whether from design or not, is not k own . T s handle suggested the pattern used in Plate XVI . ) No . 7 from New ealand is a storage box for feathers and e c other personal ornaments, us d on spe ial occasions . It is of rich brown wood with dull red pa int in the incisions between ) the bands . What beautiful flowing curves they make And n there is the semblance o f a chai to hold the treasures . Photo b M arsh ll Stud io Cumbn d e M m Pe bod M useum H rvard Unwemlt y a g a y . a y C M l l Pe bod y H rv rd Umvam t) Photo bv M arsha ll Studio u m . a a a a INTRODUCTION

HIP- C R i A VING , characterized as it is by angular n cisions in the su rfa ce ° d eco ra ted l i o , occupies a very limited fie d n the realm f wood

. Bu t carving with its limitations frankly recognized , it may appro

ria tel r B p y be employed to enrich an othe wise plain surface . ecause of

r in to r its angularity , care must be exe cised applying it curved su faces o s r to su rfaces having curved outline , lest it become as degenerate as so many o ha s o f our designs in cut glass have . Deco ration by means o f incisi ns

m m o c e to been utilized by any pri itive pe ples , be ause it is appli d an other

i - si i s rimi i d si s F 1 . z o f g. Full e un t p t ve e gn

W e e e wise finished surface . hile handling his w apons and impl m nts in times

a to ra s o f leisure , the primitive man would n turally turn sc tche and incisions

o f To - a as a method embellishment . appreciate what chip c rving may be o n e s o f le at its best , hould see some the ceremonial adz hand s and paddles

o s pro duced by the primitive men of the S uth Pacific island . The decora

- Of m tio n of these articles is characterized by an all over pattern s all units , ” O s fo r th e most pa rt deeply cut . ften these units are as small a V8 o r

is o to a The chief element in their beauty repetiti n , and chieve such beauty

e l e e o n e must exercise great patienc . As these artic es w r deco rated fo r

n o t fo r u se n o o fo o ceremonial occasion and daily , adaptati ns r c nvenience

o of fo r o o were necessary ; s me the adz handles , example , were h ll w square o n a m tubes even as large as six inches side . Sharp co ers and deep incisions

Wh m m e r were freely used . en we re e b r that these p imitive craftsmen used . ’ o r ca n e a bit of shell a shark s tooth as a cutting tool , we appr ciate better h their devotion to their art . And let us always remember that wit out that

u ul h r a devoti o n n o bea tif t ing is ever c e ted . 6 CHIP CARVIN G

o l- s W Fig . 1 shows s me ful size units of primitive de ign . hatever motif c was chosen it was used consistently, so that the whole de oration displayed

n o f m i di unity . Li es division were someti es scratched and somet mes in cated by rows of very fine chips . The pho tographs shown in the book should be studied Closely by the a n In beginner before undert ki g to carve any of the articles drawn this book . Close Observation of these photographs will give a fair idea of how to execute n s e s r d a patter which may e m ob cu e in the ink rawing . TOOLS AN D GENE RAL DIRECTIONS THOa ll the d esigns suggested In this book can be cut with the chip -carving i In F i 2 i l kn fe shown g. , the following additional tools w l be found con ’ venien t : a o - i o F i 3 n - o wo d carver s vein ng to l , g. ; a parti g to l to ” 4 1 5 fo r wide , Fig . ; and a skew chisel . Fig . , the larger chips . In ’ fl o ower form r settes , as in Plate XVII , a ca rver s gouge Of proper curve s in 6 r hown Fig . is helpful fo stabbing . These cutting tools should be

h o n o d oned to a keen , perfect edge a fine sharpening stone , str ppe on i leather, and then protected from all in)ury by stick ng them into corks when not in use . Results can be attained with perfect cutting tools which are simply unattainable with dull ones . For the single purpose o f i r n ve ning )cutting nar ow grooves), the vei ing tool should be sharpened so that the cutting edges Of the V slant forward somewhat so that

i 3 i i - oo F g. . Ve n ng t l

- F i . 4 a r i oo g . P t ng t l

i 5 . k w is F g. S e ch el

’ i 6 a r r s o F g. . C ve g uge

t h o in 3 o f o o f e V . . they cut the wood )ust ahead the p int , as sh wn Fig o On ly in this shape will this tool cut smo thly a cross the grain . o a re i Since the designs in this bo k all full s ze , it is expected that they will / ho u l he be traced and transferred to the model by ca rbon paper . S d t y not ° d : T- 45 be traced , the following rawing tools will be needed square, tri 30 ° 60 ° 22 ° d angle, x triangle, V3 x triangle , compass , ivider, scroll , ° ° ° 15 75 Ca n a 30 n and ruler . Angles of and be obt ined by adding the a gle ° 45 a l to the tri ng e . 8 CHIP CAR VIN G

has v th e After one acquired considerable skill in car ing, not all lines e d o f t e u a shown in the design ne d be rawn , for some hem will r s lt from st bbing n d i to o t a some from cutting the chips . In general the important po nt lay u n is the point where the k ife is set to sta b the design . The first cutting operation is to stab th e de

a a i sign , m king vertical cut , the po nt of the knife being at the deepest part o f the incisio n to be 7 C a ) to made , Fig . . are must be t ken hold kn ife vertical and make the stab CO inc ide wi th the

o fth e lines pattern . T o r e m o v e t h e

k is chip , the nife 8 held as in Fig . i a bbi F g. 7 . St ng wi th the th umb held firmly o n the wo rk to serve as a so rt Of pivot o n which to swing the hand while fo rc

o ing the blade f the knife under the chip . In d o ing this the po int o f the kn ife must be kept from go ing into the vertical wall made i i ) mOV i F g 8 ° Re ng Ch ps a n . by the stab , or into ad)oining chip Small

o o o l m o n o chips in straight grain w d sh u d be re oved at e cut ; large nes , curved

o o r o o e tw r o o r o nes , th se in cro ked grain may r quire o o m re cuts t em ve

t o o h - the chip smoo hly . A sm t , crisp , clear cut chip is the only one which sho uld give satisfactio n ; but o n e sho uld no t give up if this is n o t obta ined

fo r o e e s o with the first trial , s metim s unsucc ssful cut can be impr ved by

e ee r cutting d per . In these plates dimensio ns are always given in the fo llo w mg order The sign fo r inches is o mitted because n o mo del u remen t by feet . e )about r present a gro ove .

Groo ves g tool , or veiner . In the attempt to

indicate the valleys s), by shading , the light is suppo sed

o B o n to c me from the u the page . ef re stabbi g any pa t

o u t. tern , one must have to be cut Spa rklets )little a chip as show n in plate

0 sta b it TOOLS A N D GEN ER AL D IR ECTION S 9

fo r ll in s In the selection of wood the various articles i ustrated thi book ,

o l n s - the f l owi g consideration are pertinent . The soft, close grain woods cut d easier than the hard woods , but if sub)ected to hard usage they o n o t F o r h wear as well . an article whic is used rather intimately and viewed is a . close by, choice wood appropriate Some Of the soft woods are pine,

o r o - o basswood , poplar whitew od , and red gun ; th se of medium hardness ,

o a k mahogan y and black walnut ; the hard woods , cherry , , birch and hard Of r o f o ne maple . cou se , some trees any Of these kinds vary way or the o f its Th o oo o ther from the average kind . carved w d may be stained or o f dyed it is generally better to select wood natural beauty, and to finish C o it without stain . olor , however, is such an imp rtant element of beauty and harmony that one should n o t hesitate to use the excellent commercial n o w wood sta ins and dyes which are available , if thereby the article is made

o more harmoni us with its surroundings .

o o Bef re wood is finished it sh uld be smooth and clean . No attempt to th e o f o f should be made sandpaper actual cuts a piece chip carving . The tools should be sharp enough and used with such precision as to leave the

s . surface mooth If a surface needs sandpapering after it has been ca rved , the sandpapering should be done carefully with fine sandpaper wrapped snugly about a smoo th flat block ; a n d this should be mo ved in the directio n

r n o t a of the grain . G eat care is needed to fl tten the sharp ridges of the carving .

h o For articles whic are not to be handled much , a wax r linseed oil D o ul finish is suitable . ull rather than gl ssy finish sho d be used . An article that is apt to become soiled with handling and hence need cleanin g at times is better finished with shellac or varnish . Thin white shellac laid On ’ a o quickly with a soft camel s hair brush m kes a g od , hard finish . Shellac n t o r is o waterpro f but turns white in a few hou s under water. A wax finish is easily obtained with the commercial prepared waxes

h s x s or wit bee wa cut with turpentine till a soft paste result . These waxes may be brushed on and then polished after a little time with a brush as o d r shoes are polished . A go du able finish may be obta ined in the course of several weeks by the use of linseed Oil alone if successive applications of Oil are rubbed well with a cloth and allo wed to dry thoroly between applica

o to o e to ti ns . Sometimes a week is not long a tim to allow the oil harden . lO CHIP CAR VIN G

EASEL PLATE I .

F OR HOLDIN G PHOTOGRAPH OR POS T CAR D

in A . The grain Of the wo od this ea sel should run vertica lly as the

s i On e n o t drawing is hown in th s plate . should attempt to carve any pattern until o ne has succeeded in carving the design o n a practice piece o f

o r n o t wood . The model may may be planed thin at the wide end . B . The heavy line indicating the valley and the miter lines at the

- corners are the importa nt lines in the lay out Of this design . The ca rving o f a o f a this pattern should st rt at the inner end the fret , ca re being t ken i not to cut across any r dge . The sectio nal drawin g shows ridges and valleys . PLAT E I 12 CHIP CAR VIN G

T O H K H D O T PIC OL ER . PLATE II

A o o i s . This pattern is a primitive design fr m the S uth Pac fic Island . B o s m . Particular care should be taken t cut the groove of unifor width . The crosses in the backgro und a re merely lines stabbed four times with th e

n r o f o m point of the knife at the i te secti n o the cr ss . In aking any ca rving i h having rad ating chips as in t is pattern , which is an adapta tion of the

l a r to c o f i o n a s Greek honeysuck e , c e must be taken make the enter rad ati perfect as possible. s ed to th e sh o w h to n o m 0 . Sparklet may be add all c ips suggest a pla t f r .

BO) GLOVE . PLATE III

r r The ca rving on this box rep esents an interesting variation Of g ooving. s s a l 3 32 The outer line of the pattern repre ent a vertic l wal about deep , and sho uld be cut first with the knife held vertica lly . The chip is cut i l slanting from the line next the o uter line to th s vertical wal . Only one w half of the fro nt and top patterns is shown . The front and end sho n s o to in the drawing are the part belo w the cover . If a l ck is added this h box the front pattern should be modified to recognize t e keyhole . A box like this should be glued and bradded together co mpletely and then th e cover sawed apart alo ng the line of separation ; is allo wed fo r this . PLAT E II PLATE III

1 6 CHIP CAR VIN G

H K B D C EC ER OAR . PLATE IV

o o r r This form f carving , s metimes called ibbon ca rving , pe mits the easy ff in sliding of the checkers . It di ers from that Plate III in that the chip s s h to s s o i W lant from t e outer line the next outer a h wn n Section A . hen fo r s checkbo a rd o l selecting the wood thi , avoid any wo d tha t is iable to W l - warp. e l seasoned ma hogany is recommended. PLATE IV 1 8 CHIP CARVIN G

) PIN TRA . PLATE V

The diamond rosette should be cut rather shallow . Tho it may not

so - is look , the all over pattern in this design laid out on the equilateral 1 t s triangle , one side being 4 , and vertical . There are many other in ere ting

o - t h s modes f cutting o n such a lay o u . This form was chosen to keep t e u r s face a level as p ossible .

20 CHIP CAR VIN G

B ) STAMP O . PLATE VI

The tw o blocks are to be fastened to the under side of the co ver n ea r

s to k e the c a n o t s d the end ep over in position in c se hinges are u e . r b M rs E a m t n k s w b w r ca e W. F s o f B kl The u ff bo x a d a r s a e N . ) . p the p pe nive ho n ove e v d y d o er roo yn, The bo x is ma o f a R 0 0 d It vsa s u b a bli s u a sc l fo r bl Go thenber Sw d de pe r t rned y nd t dent in hoo the ind in g, e en,

F s The a k s a re ma o f a l “ 0 0 d . The bla ks w ma w a nd then ca rved by M rs . o ter p per nive de pp e n ere de in S ed en bu t the ca rvin g w a s done in this co u ntry These ca rved Ob)ects represent a ) ne a da pta tion o f the ch ip-ca rving fo rms tha t ha ve been vet) co mmon in u f the Northern co ntries o Eu ro pe .

22 CHIP CAR VIN G

D C CAR ASE . PLATE VII

to Of course , this case should be planned fit the pack of ca rds used . o f The dimensions suggested fit some the standard sizes . The catch depends upon springing the front and the back apart as the cover is pressed down . l If carefully made , it holds the cover we l . ‘ T t l x O P J fg i lz F R ON T 3 ; A x n S ID E x g 5 o o ms A “ R 6 ; C A TC H 3 cc 4

)Se ction a t A t h w c t o S o a ch .

PLATE VII 24 CHIP CARVIN G

B LOTTER . PLATE VIII

It is desirable to use a V3 chisel to stab the valley between the rows of h thi u diamonds . A brad awl might be s arpened for s p rpose, or the knife will stab it in two operations . PLATE VIII 26 CHIP CAR VIN G

PEG MORREL . PLATE IX

’ ’ m tw o Peg morrel )nine en s morris , shepherd s mill) is a fine game for v players . The moves are interesting , and ictory or defeat may come quickly . The holes in this board are so placed that the game of fo x and geese may

o f u h be made on the reverse side the board . The pegs sho ld ave ends so shaped and well sandpapered that they can readily be inserted into or

s l two removed from the hole . A skil ful carver would carve the inner borders on a layout consisting only of the ro ws o f flat )u ncut) triangles

C a o ul along their edges . areful st bbing w d finish the design .

DIRECTION S FOR PLA) IN G“

“ irs o ne a r o r a s a i a o e ac s rivin F t pl ye then the the pl ce peg n h l , e h t g to get a. mill )three pegs in a ro w bu t not cornerwise) a nd a lso to prevent his o ppo nent from gettin g a ’ i l A mi i s its o wn r to r mo o ne o o s b t ot ro a i m l . ll ent tle e e ve pp nent peg, u n f m ny m ll he

ma a . A r a ll s a en a d a re mo d wi o um i a o y h ve fte peg h ve be pl ce , they ve , th ut ) p ng, l ng the o ne o a t mo W a a r h a s o r s ca n m a w r in s a . u l e , h le ve hen pl ye nly th ee peg left, he ) p ny he e ;

has o tw o h a s os a m . when he nly , he l t the g e

) D 1 1 a nu al ra ini M az i . 918 34 . M T ng ag ne, ec , page PLATE IX 28 CHIP CARVIN G

AN D FOX GEESE . PLATE X

It Often adds interest to a piece of decoration if its corresponding mem

o u t bers are not exactly the same . This idea is carried in Plate X and in

o h o Plate XV in the l ng c ips al ng the sides of the board , the valley at the top of the plate being straight and the one at the left curved . Sparklets might be introduced in some of the diamonds .

DIRECTION S FOR FOX AN D GEESE

ox is a t r He ca n a n s a k x o hi The f pla ced the cente hole . )ump d o t e up a goose ne t t m if o u s o is m o i io s r a m im s mor a d . d a re i h c n so um the h le ) t bey n e pty If c n t n g t, he et e ) p e th n a li o ne oos t a mo . T ) s o ne a rm sa r of ro ss so d g e ve he fteen gee e occu py ) y the u ppe ) the c ly, i a nd x d to th r sid o i o s in o r ro w . then e ten e e e, ccupy ng h le the ute

F or s to win m s so o k fo a a o mo . the gee e , they u t bl c the x th t he c nn t ve

DIRECTIONS F OR SOLITAIRE

T r ms f so i a ir a re ario s : ne or xa m i to s a r wi a ll o s he p oble o l t e v u o , f e ple, be ng t t th h le x r one to an d a k a ll s xc a s one whi is ) lled e cept the cente , then )u p ) t e up) peg e ept the l t , ch r ra o s i o r r s of oar ma to la nd in the center hole . One o seve l h le n the pa t the b d y be left

a nd so o r ro ms rea ed . empty , the p ble c t

30 CHIP CARVIN G

H T ERMOMETER MOUNTS . PLATE XI

u 4 These mo nts are designed for thermometers measuring 1 . They z B u s should , of course , be changed to fit other si es which may be used . eca e a a of the direction of the grain , care must be t ken not to bre k the slender r u points of the flat su face in the border design of the shorter mo nt.

o - In the longer mount , other meth ds of cutting chips on this lay out can

o be discovered . The inventive faculty thus empl yed is worth cultivating .

32 CHIP CAR VIN G

K PIPE RAC . PLATE XII

Th e holes in the shelf should be o f suitable size to accommodate the pipes

. o f used The upper edges these holes should be well rounded and smooth . The lo ng sweeping valleys in the back can be sta bbed by drawing the knife 0 point several times along these lines . T remove the chips smoothly will

- require several operations . The three small diamond shaped surfaces at the left and right ends of the back piece are even with the main surface of

o n c the board and are simply stabbed all four sides to re eive the valleys .

HA DKER HIEF B ) N C O . PLATE XIII

ul r The under top board sho d be sc ewed as well as glued to the cover ,

h - i a l - h wit the grain running cross w se . The det i drawings show one alf Of

- one side and one half of the pattern for the cover. PLATE XII PLATE XII- A PLATE XIII 36 CHIP CARVIN G

WH KB H IS ROOM OLDER . PLATE XIV

The front and the back o f this model had better be carved the

s B t to part are glued together . ecause the design on the sides ex ends its ou t edges , the outside rows of chips are better t after the par s are glued . The chips between the vertical rows Of flat diamonds are so mewhat peculiar

o s a re n o t in that their deepest p int together, but are at opp osite ends of l the val ey .

38 CHIP CARVIN G

C U PI T RE FRAME . PLATE XV

The recess fo r the picture sho uld be cut with chisel and router plane

o c o bef re the carving is exe uted . The circular pening ca n be cut w ith a

o r o to n large expansive bit with a scr ll saw . If the frame is hang o the wall

- a sma ll brass screw eye may be used .

40 CHIP CA RVIN G

H H P OTOGRAP FRAME . PLATE XVI

The play o f light and shade o n this design when carved is much more n s interesting than the drawi g suggest . The carving should be kept delica te , hence the flat radiating and elliptical bands must be made narrow . The

o to narrower they are , h wever , the more liable split are those which run

o acro ss the grain . A pocket into which the ph tograph slips is built o n the of a a ba ck . The brace presupposes the use the fr me as an e sel. PLAT E XVI 42 CHIP CAR VIN G

WH KB H D L VI IS ROOM OL ER . P ATE X I

To s o 6 o a stab these ro ettes a g uge )Fig . ) f suit ble sweep is desirable , tho

the curves can be cut by drawing the knife several times a long them . Attention is called to the leaf pattern border o n the edge and ends o f the

o f o of shelf . This border may , course, be mitted . Accurate cutting the

s to o f sparklet will add much the appearance this article . The upper edges

o f o o o r the elliptical pening sh uld be well r unded with sandpape .

W B S KE ) ASTE A T . PLATE VIII

o o o o The octag nal b tt m should be made as accurate as p ssible . The

o ne o blocks between the eight vertical sides are best made in l ng piece . They sho uld be glued and nailed in place before the sides are screwed to the

o n e bottom . Only screw should be put in each side until the tops are tied

. Tw o o to s Pi together r settes may give place large bra s ring handles .

u t h - o o r nally , the sides sho ld be laced toge her wit raw hide sh e belt lacings . PLATE XVII PLATE XVIII

46 CHIP CAR VIN G

K E PAPER NIV S . PLATE XIX

s n rv The e k ives should be shaped completely before the ca ing is added .

o f - r of B They should be made firm , close g ain wood . The design was ’ adapted fro m a paddle fro m the South Pacific islands ; the design Of C from a

Chi - Ca rvin Patterns knife by Jenn y Andreen in her book , p g . PLATE XIX