1. art and entertainment
2. visual art and design
3. design

CHIP
CARVING
By
HARRIS
W.
MOORE
"I
Supervisor of Manual
WaterUywUy
THE
MANUAL
PEORIA,
Training
Massachusetts
ARTS
ILLINOIS
PRESS
Copyright,
HARRIS
Printed
in
1922
W.
United
MOORE
States
of America
267128
JUN21
CONTENTS
Pagb
Introduction
Tools
5
Directions
General
and
Easels, Two, Photograph
Holder, Three
Toothpick
7
Postcard
or
10
Patterns
1"
Box
Glove
12
Board
Checker
Pin Tray
16
18
"
.
.
Stamp
Box
Card
Case.
20
2"
.
Blotter
24
Peg
Morrel
Fox
AND
(Game Board)
Geese
Mounts,
Thermometer
.
(Game Board)
28
Patterns
Two
30
Pipe Rack
.32
Box.
Handkerchief
Holder
Whiskbroom
TicTURE
32
.
.
.
"
.....
.
Frame
Photograph
"6
38
Frame
Whiskbroom
.40
Holder
Waste
Basket
Paper
Knives, Three
36
42
42
...."'..."
46
EXAMPLES
The
photographs
Harvard
is
1
Hervey
ceremonial
a
its
of
beauty
of incisions
here also
6
the
yard long.
a
and
perforated, the
from
Vavitao
column,
denoting
The
jade head
in
others
suggested the pattern
Zealand
New
the bands.
What
the
with
dull red
beautiful
there is the semblance
of
a
flat
paint
flowing
to
This
as
erect
as
a
This
XVI.
for feathers
in the incisions
they
curves
hold
handle
manner.
special occasions.
on
manship
work-
known.
is not
in Plate
the
to
stands
storage box
a
chain
is not
beautiful
skillful
not,
or
used
is
rows
repetition, yet
is bound
shown,
used
personal ornaments,
rich brown
emphasize
blade
shows
and
not
design
from
wood
the
junction of the
The
and
elaborate
an
several
7 from
the
out
bring
structure.
thruout.
whether
that
marvelous
of the
Island
cord
to
bands
Island
longitudinally.
Mangaia
like
help
cords.
is from
braided
handle,
with
beauty
the bands
are
paddle and
bound
the
3 notice
In No.
that
transversely and
both
curved
No.
in
seemingly strengthened by horizontal
tho
as
A
of the
is
paddle
lens will
Notice
carving.
blade
shaft and
other
mens
speci-
Museum,
Island
It is about
is hollow
tribute
or
Group.
outline
and
No.
Peabody
Mangaia
Pacific.
handle
of the
Australian
in the
from
adz
in the South
part
2 is
No.
handle
in the
show
pages
deeply incised.
remainder
with
following
two
located
now
ceremonial
a
Group
lower
but
the
CARVING.
University.
No.
center
PRIMITIVE
on
chip carving
of
The
OF
the
make!
treasures.
and
It is of
between
And
Photo
by Marshall
Studio. Cambridge. Mass
Peabody Museum,
Harvard
University
Photo
Cambrid8e" Ma".
by Marahall Studio,
Pwbody
Museum.
Harvard
UniTernty
INTRODUCTION
HIP-CARVING,
surface
characterized
decorated, occupies a
carving. But
be
employed to
itsangularity,
must
care
or
very
enrich
an
angular incisions
by
limited
its limitations
with
it is
as
field in the realm
frankly recognized,it
otherwise
be exercised
plainsurface.
in the
of wood-
may
priately
appro-
Because
in
of
applying it to curved
having curved outlines,lest it become
degenerate as so many
as
in
have.
Decoration
of incisions has
cut
designs
glass
by means
utilized by many
it is applied to an otherprimitive peoples, because
surfaces
to surfaces
of
our
been
vw
H^^
VW
w^^
VWYWVWWVW
V
Fig.
wise
at
its best,
of
one
produced by
of these
for the most
units of primitive designs
While
would
primitiveman
method
a
Full-size
and implements in times
handling his weapons
naturallyturn to scratches and incisions
To
embellishment.
be
appreciate what chip-carvingmay
finished surface.
of leisure,the
as
1.
should
the
see
some
primitive men
of the
ceremonial
of the
South
articles is characterized
part deeply
cut.
by
these
an
handles
and
paddles
The
tion
decora-
all-over
units
are
pattern of small
as
small
as
3^'' or
units,
3/16'^
and to achieve
such beauty
beauty is repetition,
exercise great patience. As these articles were
decorated
for
must
one
ceremonial occasion and not for daily use, no adaptations for convenience
of the adz handles, for example, were
hollow square
some
were
necessary;
and deep incisions
tubes even
largeas six inches on a side. Sharp comers
as
that these primitive craftsmen
remember
used
we
were
freelyused. When
bit of shell or a shark's tooth as a cutting tool, we
can
appreciate better
a
And
let us always remember
that without
to their art.
their devotion
that
is
created.
beautiful thing
devotion
no
ever
The
chief element
in their
Often
adz
Pacific islands.
6
CHIP
Fig. 1
was
shows
chosen it was
some
used
CARVING
full-size units of
motif
primitivedesign. Whatever
displayed
so that the whole decoration
consistently,
unity. Lines of division were sometimes scratched and sometimes indicated
by rows of very fine chips.
The photographs shown in the book should be studied closelyby the
beginnerbefore undertakingto carve any of the articlesdrawn in this book.
Close observation of these photographswill givea fairidea of how to execute
obscure in the ink drawing.
seem
a pattern which may
TOOLS
AND
DIRECTIONS
GENERAL
allthe
designssuggestedin this book can be cut with the chip-carving
in Fig. 2, the followingadditional tools will be found convenient:
wood-carver's
tool 1/32'' to
a
veining tool, Fig. 3; a parting1/16" wide, Fig. 4; and a 1" skew chisel. Fig. 5, for the largerchips. In
rpHO
-"-
knife shown
flower form
shown
rosettes,
as
in Plate XVII,
a
carver's
gouge
of proper
curve
in
Fig. 6 is helpfulfor stabbing. These cutting tools should be
honed to a keen, perfectedge on a fine sharpeningstone, stropi"edon
leather,and then protected from all injuryby stickingthem into corks
when
Results can
be attained with perfect cutting tools
not in use.
which
For the singlepurpose
are
simply unattainable with dull ones.
of veining(cuttingnarrow
tool
should be sharpened
the
grooves),
veining
that the cutting edges of the V slant forward
somewhat
so
that
so
ZJ
Veining-tool
Fig. 3.
C
Fig. 4.
V
"
"
'
Parting-tool
7
Fig. 5.
Skew
Fig. 6. Carver's
they
Only
cut
the
wood
just
ahead
shape will this tool
of the
"
I
chisel
gouge
point of. the
V
as
the
shown
in
Fig. 3.
grain.
smoothly
book
full
all
it
is
this
in
Since the designs
size,
are
expectedthat they will
Should they not
be traced and transferred to the model by carbon paper.
tools
will
be
angle,
needed:
the
be traced,
followingdrawing
T-square, 45" tri30"* X 60'' triangle,
divider,scroll,
triangle,
223^*"x 67}/^''
compass,
and ruler. Angles of 15" and 75" ":an be obtained by adding the 30" angle
to the 45" triangle.
in this
cut
across
8
CHIP
After
CARVING
has
acquiredconsiderable skill in carving,not all the lines
designneed be drawn, for some of them will result from stabbing
and some
from cuttingthe chips. In generalthe importantpointto layout
is the pointwhere the knife is set to stab the design.
sign,
The first cuttingoperationis to stab the dethe
of
vertical
knife
the
a
cut,
point
making
beingat the deepestpart of the incision to be
made. Fig. 7. Care must be taken to hold the
shown
one
in the
knife vertical and
make
the stab
with
incide
co-
the
linesof the pattern.
the
To remove
Fig.7. Stabbing
held
firmly
pivoton which
on
the work
to
chip,the knife is
held as in Fig. 8
with
to serve
the
as
a
thumb
sort of
swingthe hand while
the blade of the knife under the
ing
forc-
chip.In
doing this
the point of the knife must
be
made
into
the
verticalwall
going
kept
^^"-^- Removing chips
chip. Small
by the stab,or into an adjoining
grainwood should be removed at one cut; largeones, curved
chipsin straight
in
those
crooked grainmay
or
cuts to remove
requiretwo or more
ones,
the chip smoothly. A smooth, crisp,
clear-cut chip is the only one
which
but one
should not giveup if this is not obtained
should givesatisfaction;
with the first trial,
for sometimes
unsuccessful cuts can
be improved by
deeper.
recutting
In these platesdimensions
are
always given in the foUowmg order:
The
widi5c
thickness.
for
inches is omitted because no model
sign
length,
is largeenough^'Si^Q^^r^
measurement
by feet.
Two
parallelluN^losetogether (about 1/32) represent a groove.
be cut wiOiknife, partingtool,or veiner. In the attempt to
Grooves
may
indicate the valleys,
(the oS^p incisions),
by shading,the lightis supposed
of
the
the
Before stabbingany patfrom
left
ftorner
to come
tern,
page.
upper
have clearly
must
in mfed what chipsare to be cut out.
one
Sparklets(little
V-shape cutsSn the edge of a chip as shown in plate
XIII) are best cut with the knife heRi nearlyvertical.
To add crispness
to the carved patteto, itissometimes
necessary to stab it
the
divisions
between cuts.
allagainand thus clearly
emphasizethe de^ places,
from
\
TOOLS
AND
followingconsiderations
easier than
well.
as
wear
the
hard
For
an
9
DIRECTIONS
for the various articlesillustratedin this
In the selection of wood
the
GENERAL.
pertinent.The
are
book,
woods
soft,dose-grain
cut
woods, but if subjectedto hard usage they do not
article whick is used rather intimately
and Viewed
by, a choice wood is appropriate.Some of the soft woods are pine,
hardness,
basswood, poplar or whitewood, and red-gun;those of medium
the
birch
hard woods, cherry, oak,
and hard
mahogany and black walnut;
the
trees of any of these kinds vary one
or
maple. Of course, some
way
close
Tho
of its kind.
the average
it is generally
better to select wood
other from
carved wood
dyed
of natural
stain. Color,however, is such an
and harmony that one should not hesitate to
more
or
beauty,and to finish
importantelement of beauty
it without
wood
be stained
may
the excellent commercial
use
dyes which are now available,if therebythe articleismade
harmonious with its surroundings.
stains and
Before
wood
should be made
is finished it should
to
be smooth
sandpaperthe actual cuts of
a
and
clean.
pieceof
No
attempt
chipcarving. The
sharp enough and used with such precisionas to leave the
If a surface needs sandpaperingafter it has been carved,
with fine sandpaper wrapped
the sandpapering should be done carefully
flat
be moved
in the direction
and
this
should
smooth
about
block;
a
snugly
is
flatten
needed not to
the sharp ridgesof the
of the grain. Great care
carving.
tools should be
surface smooth.
For
articles which
finish issuitable. Dull
are
not
to
rather than
that is apt to become soiled with
is better finished with shellac
be handled
much,
a
glossyfinish should
wax
Thin
varnish.
linseed oil
be used. An
handlingand hence need
or
or
white
article
cleaningat times
shellac laid
on
quicklywith a soft camel's hair brush makes a good, hard finish. Shellac
is not waterproofbut turns white in a few hours under water.
A wax
finish is easilyobtained with the commercial
prepared waxes
with
soft
beeswax
till
with
results.
These waxes
cut
turpentine a
or
paste
may
be brushed
on
and
then
polishedafter
a
littletime with
a
brush
as
of
polished.A good durable finish may be obtained in the course
several weeks by the use of linseed oil alone if successive applications
of
oil are rubbed well with a cloth and allowed to dry thorolybetween applications.
Sometimes
is not too long a time to allow the oil to harden.
a week
shoes
are
10
CHIP
CARVING
EASEL
For
A. The
drawing
grain of
is shown
pattern until one
wood.
The model
B. The
comers
are
Holding
the
wood
in this
Plate
Photograph
I.
or
Post
in this easel should
plate.
has succeeded in
One
should
not
Card
as
vertically
run
attempt to
carvingthe designon
a
any
practicepieceof
planedthin at the wide end.
heavy line indicatingthe valleyand the miter lines at the
the importantlines in the lay-outof this design. The carving
may
or
may
not
be
of this pattern should start at the inner end of the fret,care
not
to cut across
ridge. The sectional drawing shows
any
valleys.
carve
the
being taken
ridgesand
EASELS
B
4i*2
,
i
*
^
V ^niiiiiiimi^tiBtta "^'^^-^-'^^Trf^ff"UfcUUUtt^/
/-
aeoTtoM
Plate
I
A
B
12
CHIP
TOOTHPICK
A.
This pattern is a
CARVING
HOLDER.
H
Plate
primitive
designfrom
the South
Pacific Islands.
B. Particular
The
crosses
should be taken to cut the grooves of uniform width.
care
in the background are merely linesstabbed four times with the
In making any carving
pointof the knife at the intersection of the cross.
having radiatingchips as in this pattern, which is an adaptationof the
be taken to make
the center of radiation as
must
Greek honeysuckle,
care
perfectas possible*
be added to the shallow chips to suggest a plant form.
C. Sparklets
may
GLOVE
The
The
and
carving on
Plate
BOX.
this box represents an
variation
interesting
line of the pattern represents a vertical wall about
The
should be cut first with the knife held vertically.
from the line next the
slanting
outer
line to this vertical wall.
top patterns is shown.
in the drawing are the parts below the cover.
box the front pattern should be modified to
the
of
outer
half of the front and
box
III
like this should be glued and
cover
this.
sawed
apart
along the
If
a
chip is cut
Only oneend
lock is added
shown
to this
recognizethe keyhole. A
togethercompletelyand then
separation;3/16 is allowed for
bradded
line of
front and
The
grooving.
3/32 deep,
T(a)THPICK
OR
riATCHEi
hOLPER.
HAIPIPINS,
on
BOTTOM
3
2*2
"
16
S1BE6
EMBS
"I
I
Pepeait A,B,
on
eb^ch
or
side.
A
DEEP
SHALLOW
Plate
II
C
GLOVE
PROnT
ft
5d.wing 2vpd^rt the
box
to
form
cover.
Plate
III
BOX
16
CHIP
CARVING
Plate
CHECKERBOARD.
IV
This form of carving,
sometimes
called ribbon carving,
permitsthe easy
of the checkers. It diflFersfrom that in Plate III in that the chip
sliding
slants from
the outer line to the next
the wood
selecting
warp.
for this
Well-seasoned
outer
as
checkboard, avoid
mahogany
isrecommended.
shown
any
in Section A.
wood
When
that is liable to
BQAPli^
CHECKER
Designs
Sectior? A
re^ebXed
Plate
IV
rmi^y ha
d\^ferent\y
18
CHIP
PIN
The
diamond
rosette
CARVING
TRAY.
should
Plate
be cut
V
rather shallow.
so, the all-over pattern is in this designlaid out
side being34,and vertical. There are many
one
triangle,
look
modes
of
as
cuttingon such
level as possible.
a
lay-out.This
form
was
Tho
the
it may
not
equilateral
other interesting
chosen to keep the surface
on
IMn
TRAV
BOTTOM
5IDE
5j'^4",^e
""'
"
'
X
ft
ES^^^^^^'^'^^'^^SZS
5lbE
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
BOTTon
Plate
V
20
CHIP
STAMP
The
two
the ends to
blocks
Veep the
are
cover
to
CARVING
BOX.
be fastened
in
Plate
VI
to the under
in case
position
side of the
hingesare
net used.
cover
near
carved by Mrs. Edwin W. Foster of Brookl^-n,
and the paper knives shown above were
N. Y.
of pear wood.
It was turned by a blind student in a school for the blind in Gothenberg,
Sweden,
made in Sweden
and then carved by Mrs. Foster. The paper knives are made of apple wood. The blanks were
The
The
puffbox
box is made
but the
done in this country.
forms that have been
carved objectsrepresent a fine adaptationof the chip-carving
carvingwas
These
the Northern
countries of
Europe.
very
common
in
22
CHIP
CARD
Of
The
this
case
CASE.
should be
suggestedfitsome
Vn
Plate
planned to
fit the
of the standard
springingthe front and the back apart
well.
made, it holds the cover
carefully
upon
If
course,
dimensions
CARVING
as
pack
sizes. The
the
cover
is
of cards used.
catch depends
presseddown.
CASE
CADD
UGa
Plate
|-"ci
VII
24
CHIP
BLOTTER.
It is desirable to
diamonds.
A
will stab it in
brad
two
use
awl
a
H
CARVING
Plate
VIII
chisel to stab the
be
might
operations.
sharpenedfor
valleybetween
this purpose,
the
or
rows
of
the knife
BLOTTER.
TOP
TiOCKER
Plate
3z'^^'^}^
52*3 "^
VIII
26
CHIP
CARVING
PEGMORREL.
Peg morrel
players.The
The
shaped
borders
(ninemen's morris,shepherd'smill)is a
and victory
or defeat
are
interesting,
of
this board are so placedthat the game
the
on
from
on
reverse
well
and
removed
IX
moves
holes in
be made
Plate
a
side of the board.
sandpapered that
the
holes.
they
skillful
A
The
pegs
come
may
fox and
for two
quickly.
geese
may
should have ends
readilybe inserted into
can
would
carver
layoutconsisting
only of the
fine game
rows
carve
of flat
the
so
or.
inner
two
(uncut)triangles
along their edges. Careful stabbingwould finish the design.
DIRECTIONS
First
playerthen
one
the other
FOR
placesa
peg
PLAYING*
in
a
to get
hole,each striving
a
**mill'*
but not comerwise) and also to prevent his opponent from gettinga
mill. A mill entitlesits owner
to remove
one
opponent'speg, but not from any mill he
(threepegs in
may
row
After all pegs have
have.
one
lines,
a
hole at
a
move.
When
been
a
they are moved, without jumping,along the
placed,
playerhas only three pegs left,he can jump anywhere;
when he has only two, he has lostthe game.
*Mamud
TrainingMagazine,Dec. 1918,
page
134.
PEG
nOPlREL
nine
n^Ke
lighttnlne
d^i.^i^ mea
of
4
dowel
'
I0*I0"8
"4
Plate
IX
long.
28
CHIP
FOX
AND
CARVING
GEESE.
Plate
X
It often adds interest to
members
a pieceof decoration if its corresponding
This idea is carried out in Plate X and in
exactlythe same.
in the long chipsalong the sides of the board, the valleyat the
Plate XV
and the one at the left curved. Sparklets
top of the platebeingstraight
in
be
introduced
of
the
diamonds.
some
might
not
are
DIRECTIONS
The
goose
FOX
fox is placedat the center hole. He
if the hole
one
FOR
justbeyond
at
a
is empty.
The
move.
can
If conditions are
fifteengeese occupy
one
AND
GEESE
jump and so take up a goose next to him
he can sometimes jump more
than
right,
arm
(saythe upper)of the cross solidly,
and then extend to either side,occupyingholes in the outer
For the geese to win, they must
so
DIRECTIONS
The
row.
block the fox that he cannot
FOR
move.
SOLITAIRE
one, for example,being to start with all holes
jump (and take up) alli"egs except the lastone, which is
problemsof solitaireare various:
filled
except the center
to land in the center
empty, and
so
other
one,
then to
hole. One
or
several holes in other parts of the board may
problemscreated.
be
left
30
CHIP
THERMOMETER
CARVING
MOUNTS.
Plate
XI
designedfor thermometers
measuring 4x1.
They
fitother
be
sizeswhich
used.
Because
to
changed
course,
may
be taken not to break the slender
of the direction of the grain,care must
pointsof the flat surface in the border designof the shorter mount.
In the longermount, other methods of cuttingchipson this lay-outcan
be discovered. The inventive facultythus employed is worth cultivating.
These
should,of
mounts
are
be
TncRnoriETER
Plate
XI
32
CHIP
PIPE
The
CABVING
RACK.
XII
Plate
holes in the shelf should be of suitable size to accommodate
the pipes
these
be
of
rounded
holes
should
well
and
smooth.
edges
upper
The longsweepingvalleys
the
the
in
knife
back can be stabbed by drawing
the chipssmoothly will
pointseveral times along these lines. To remove
requireseveral operations.The three small diamond-shaped surfaces at
the leftand rightends of the back pieceare even
with the main surface of
the board and are simplystabbed on allfour sides to receive the valleys.
The
used.
HANDKERCHIEF
The
with
one
under top board
the
BOX.
should be screwed
grainrunning cross-wise.
The
Plate
as
detail
side and one-half of the pattern for the
cover.
well
XIH
as
glued to the cover,
drawingsshow one-half of
Plate
XII
BACi^
or
mPE
ftACK
9'7/i
J
Plate
XII-A
nAnDMEftcnicr
rr
box
"
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Ct7ArT7fer
ie P61
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^
idt^
a^
TOP
6
^1^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
45^.^8
,
Plate
XIII
,
36
CHIP
WfflSKBROOM
The
front and
the back
CABVING
HOLDER.
of this model
the
Plate
had
XIV
better be carved
before the
the sides extends to its
designon
parts are glued together.
of chips are better cut after the parts are glued.
edges,the outside rows
The chipsbetween the vertical rows
of flat diamonds are somewhat
peculiar
but
in that their deepestpointsare not together,
at oppositeends of
are
the valley.
Because
38
CHIP
PICTURE
The
before
recess
the
for the
a
FRAME.
pictureshould
carvingis executed.
largeexpansivebit
or
small brass screw-eye
CARVING
with
may
N
a
The
scrollsaw.
be used.
Plate
be cut
with
circular
XV
chisel and
opening
If the frame
can
is to
router
be cut
hang
on
plane
with
a
the wall
rPiAn"
PICTURE
'
"fil"4
6i
Cut
2k
recess
in bdicK.
Vlate
XV
40
CHIP
PHOTOGRAPH
CARVING
FRAME.
Plate
XVI
play of lightand shade on this designwhen carved is much more
than the drawing suggests. The carvingshould be kept delicate,
interesting
and elliptical
be made
bands must
hence the flat radiating
The
narrow.
those which run
liable to split
are
narrower
they are, however, the more
into
the
A
which
the
photographslipsis built on the
grain. pocket
across
The
back.
The
brace presupposes
the
use
of the frame
as
an
easel.
I
Back
6^x4^x3
CledXs
6|" I
ClcziX
4
"
""
"
"
8
-
"
\
Top
oP Brace
ened
Plate
XVI
42
CHIP
WfflSKBROOM
CARVING
Plate
HOLDER.
XVH
a gouge
(Fig.6) of suitable sweep is desirable,tho
by drawing the knife several times along them.
Attention is called to the leaf pattern border on the edge and ends of the
be omitted.
of course,
Accurate
shelf. This border may,
cuttingof the
will
this
The
much
the
add
of
article.
to
sparklets
appearance
upper edges
of the elliptical
opening should be well rounded with sandpaper.
To
the
stab these rosettes
curves
can
be
cut
WASTE
BASKET.
Plate
XVIII
as
octagonalbottom should be made as accurate
possible.The
the eightvertical sides are best made
blocks between
in one
long piece.
They should be gluedand nailed in placebefore the sides are screwed to the
bottom.
should be put in each side until the tops are tied
Only one screw
nally,
together. Two rosettes may giveplaceto largebrass ring handles. Fithe sides should be laced together
with raw-hide shoe or belt lacings.
The
vx/ni;5KB(^flDn noLDEfe
BACK
3
Plate
XVII
xi
BAStSET
WASTE
e*^''^
BOTTOM
83IDE5
I
"
X
7
BLOCrS
Pull
Size
LLAlx
00
h7^
;6
^N
19
9
e
0
O
Plate
XVIII
X
3
46
CHIP
PAPER
These
knives should be
CARVING
KNIVES.
Plate
XIX
is added.
shaped completelybefore the carvmg
B was
of
The
wood.
firm, close-grain
design
They
the designof C from a
adaptedfrom a paddlefrom the South Pacific islands;
Patterns.
knife by Jenny Andr6en in her book, Chip-Carving
should
be
made
of
:"^
UJ
fO
r
a:
"
a
"i
a
Plate
XIX