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Tag: wood carving

  • Is the Female Saint (Margaret?) depicted in the Lady Chapel Screen of Manchester Cathedral?

    Female Saint (Margaret?) Lady Chapel Screen, Manchester Cathedral

    Manchester Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George, has a rich history that dates back to the medieval times. The cathedral originally served as a parish church but was rebuilt and promoted to collegiate status in the 15th century. It was later designated as a cathedral in 1847 when the Diocese of Manchester was established. The church boasts of an imposing edifice with reputedly the widest nave of any medieval church in England.

    The church underwent several restorations and renovations, the most significant of which were after bomb damage in World War II. The Lady Chapel screen narrowly escaped complete destruction when the chapel immediately behind it was demolished. The screen was damaged but pieced back together with new structural elements, while the most important carved elements escaped mostly unharmed. The cathedral lost all pre-war stained glass during the bombing, but today it is adorned instead by some very vibrant examples of contemporary stained glass, including the sequence of five windows at the west end by Anthony Holloway, providing bold splashes of colour in their abstract expressionism.

    Despite all the restoration and renewal the cathedral still has much to offer, with much medieval woodwork remaining in the roofs and furnishings. The outstanding feature here are the early 16th century choir stalls, some of the very finest in the country, with enjoyable misericord seats set beneath wonderfully rich canopies, some of the best late medieval wood carving to have survived.

    Manchester Cathedral is one of the most successful of the ‘parish church cathedral’ upgrades, and it possesses the scale, interest, and dignity of a cathedral. It welcomes visitors daily, inviting them to explore its rich history and enjoy its breathtaking features.

    Posted by Aidan McRae Thomson on 2019-09-03 19:11:24

  • Discover the Charm of Baker County with www.travelbakercounty.com

    Baker County Tourism – www.travelbakercounty.com 59138

    Local artist and woodcarver Steve Arment hosted a wood carving class at the historic Churchill School in Baker City, Oregon. The school building, once an elementary school, was purchased by local artists and preservationists Brian and Corrine Vegter and has been repurposed into an arts incubator, community event center, and concert venue. The school houses a sound studio, a working woodshop, metal fabrication studio, gallery space, and artist studios.

    The wood carving class, held in the working woodshop, was open to students of all levels and provided an opportunity for participants to learn from a master woodcarver. Steve Arment shared his techniques and insights with the students, guiding them through the process of carving a wooden bird from a block of basswood.

    The class was one of many events and classes hosted at Churchill School. The school is also home to exhibits and festivals, and visitors can learn more about these events by visiting their website. Information about other art classes and events in Baker County can be found on the Baker County Tourism website.

    Posted by TravelBakerCounty on 2019-10-22 18:57:23

  • Hunting Foxes with Misericord at Manchester Cathedral

    Fox as Hunter, Misericord, Manchester Cathedral

    Manchester Cathedral, which was formerly the parish and collegiate church of St. Mary, St. Denys and St. George, was rebuilt in the 15th century in a uniform late Perpendicular style when it was promoted to collegiate status. It is an imposing edifice with a spacious nave and elaborate choir stalls that are some of the finest in the country. Although the original sandstone has not aged well, much of the stonework has been faithfully restored to preserve its original design while the interior was lightened by a new layer of paint. However, the bomb damage from World War II led to the destruction of the pre-war stained glass and the Lady chapel, which was replaced with a new windowless design. Despite all the restoration and renewal, Manchester Cathedral remains a magnificent building that displays the scale, interest, and dignity of a cathedral. It offers daily visits to tourists and visitors.

    Posted by Aidan McRae Thomson on 2019-09-02 05:47:17

  • Manchester Cathedral’s Misericord Featuring Sow and Piglets

    Sow & Piglets, Misericord, Manchester Cathedral

    Manchester Cathedral, the parish and collegiate church of St Mary, St Denys and St George, is a grand structure exuding civic pride, despite its origins as a parish church. It was rebuilt in the 15th century when it was promoted to collegiate status, and the upper half of the west tower is a Victorian addition, blending well with the rest of the building. The church’s original sandstone did not age well, necessitating complete renewal of the external stonework and much of the internal surface. Further restoration was necessary following bomb damage during World War II when a high-explosive demolished the lady chapel and much of the northeast corner. Despite the restoration and renewal, the cathedral still has much to offer, and there is much medieval woodwork remaining in the roofs and furnishings. Moreover, the early 16th-century choir stalls are some of the finest in the country, with enjoyable misericord seats set beneath wonderfully rich canopies, some of the best late-medieval wood carving to have survived. Today the cathedral is adorned with vibrant examples of contemporary stained glass, most notably the sequence of five windows at the west end by Anthony Holloway providing bold splashes of colour in their abstract expressionism. Although the cathedral lost all pre-war stained glass, its loss is generally not mourned as the interior was rather gloomy. Despite looking like a Victorian building, it still possesses the scale, interest and dignity of a cathedral.

    Posted by Aidan McRae Thomson on 2019-09-02 05:37:09

  • “1993: Stuart King in Pennsylvania”

    Stuart King, Pensylvania 1993

    The 1993 Wood Turning Conference in Pennsylvania, USA, featured a demonstration of the bodgers pole lathe. This demonstration was depicted in a German magazine and marked the beginning of the Wood Turning Conference.

    The bodgers pole lathe is a type of wood lathe that was commonly used by bodgers in England during the 19th century. Bodgers were itinerant woodworkers who would travel around the countryside turning wooden items on their lathes. The pole lathe was an essential tool for bodgers, as it allowed them to turn items quickly and with minimal tools.

    In the demonstration at the Wood Turning Conference, a bodger demonstrated how the pole lathe worked. The lathe consists of two main parts: the bed and the headstock. The bed is a long piece of wood that sits on the ground, and the headstock is a smaller piece of wood that sits on top of the bed. A long piece of cord is then tied to the headstock, and a foot pedal is used to spin the headstock.

    The bodger would then use various chisels and gouges to shape the wood as it spun on the lathe. The pole lathe is designed to allow the wood to spin continuously, even when the bodger is not touching it, so it was a very efficient tool. The bodger would simply use his or her tools to shape the wood as it spun on the lathe, producing a variety of wooden items such as bowls, cups, and other household items.

    The demonstration of the bodgers pole lathe was well-received at the Wood Turning Conference, and it helped to generate interest in traditional wood turning techniques. Since then, the conference has grown into a major event that attracts woodworkers from around the world.

    One of the reasons why the bodgers pole lathe is so popular with woodworkers is that it is a very simple tool. Unlike modern power tools, which can be complex and difficult to use, the pole lathe is very straightforward. It requires only a small number of tools, and it is very easy to set up and use.

    Another reason why the pole lathe is so popular is that it is environmentally friendly. Because it is powered by a foot pedal, it does not require electricity, which means that it does not contribute to global warming or other environmental problems. Additionally, because it is a hand tool, it does not produce noise or other types of pollution that can be harmful to humans or the environment.

    Overall, the demonstration of the bodgers pole lathe at the 1993 Wood Turning Conference was a landmark event. It helped to generate interest in traditional wood turning techniques and inspired many woodworkers to try their hand at using this simple and environmentally friendly tool. Today, the bodgers pole lathe remains a popular tool among woodworkers around the world, and it continues to be used to create beautiful and functional wooden items.

    Posted by Stuart Kings on 2007-12-19 16:14:55