About woodcarving

Information about periods and styles of woodcarving.

Periods and styles of carving

• Gothic; 12th - 15th centuries
• Baroque; 1625 - 1689
• Rococo; 1689 - 1727
• Neo-classical; 1727 -1812
• Regency; 1812 - 1837
• Arts and crafts; 1837 - 1901

Gothic

The pointed arch motif is highly prominent in the Gothic style, based on windows that can still be seen in many c hurches today. When carving the choir stalls, rood-screens, roofs, and alters of English churches, works of immense detail were created. Foliage such as vine leaves, grapes and maple leaves were a staple of the style.

Rococo, Neo-Classical and Regency

“These are my preferred styles of carving and a huge number of inspired carvers and furniture makers plied there trade in this period.”
Dafydd Hughes Thomas Chippendale, Robert Adam, and William Kent were perhaps the most famous and prevalent practitioners of carving and furniture making during these periods. The Chippendale style is richly ornamental, highly influenced by Chinese carving. Chinese influences mixed with the use of western styles of woodcarving created a unique style know as 'Chinoiserie'. Carvings depicted magnificent flights of fancy, used to embellish wonderful and stylish furniture. Thomas Chippendale is the best known designer of this period, having written the 'Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director' a hugely influential book still to this day.

The Neo-classical style's most famous makers are Sheraton and Robert Adam. They created an elegant style favouring straight lines and emphasizing vertical lines. During this period in the history of woodcarving, many works were gilded or painted, therefore the wood used for carving was often Pine or Lime as both are soft woods that are cheaper, easier and quicker to carve than say Oak. The Neo-classical style brought in the carving of roses, Prince of Wales feathers, classical urn's, delicate, finely carved husks and used floral and drapery festoons, floral garlands and bowknotted baskets of flowers.

During the reign of Queen Anne 1702-1714, the style of carving used long sweeping curves with the use of scrolls being particularly prominent. Mirrors and carved tables in this period commonly featured a shell motif and were almost exclusively of gilded pine and lime.
The Regency period produced highly elegant woodcarvings which were greatly influenced by the Greek and Roman styles, depicting Gods, eagles, dolphins and lions in a lot of the carving