Unlike items cast using a mould and hot metals, carved items require the artist to slowly chip away at the block of material to ‘reveal’ the artwork within. This is usually achieved using metal chisels and a mallet to add more force to the blow but can also include chip carving where just a chisel with no mallet is used, and whittling which uses a sharp knife instead of a chisel. The most common materials to carve are wood and stone and examples of these have been found to date back many thousands of years. No matter what the age, the skill of the artist is to understand how the material has been formed and where the natural weaknesses are so they can work in harmony with them. Those working in wood will know that carving with the grain is far more effective than against the grain (which chips more easily) and that a tighter grain will hold more detail. Similarly a competent stone mason will know how soft or hard each type of stone is and how it should break or chip even before they hit it.
For those who collect carvings the love is often both for the skill of the craftsperson to bring that piece to life, as well as the way it has continued to age over time. The inherent moisture and internal pressures in wood will cause it to crack and bend over time as if still somehow alive, and stone left out in the weather will slowly wear away the details and become home to moss, lichen and more. It is this ability for carvings to constantly evolve even after they have been completed which make antique and vintage pieces so much more special than new examples.
At LoveAntiques we have a fine selection of Antique and Vintage carvings for all your needs.
Koos Limburg Jnr
Early Dated 1661 Fine Oak Chip Carved Dutch Mangle Board
£ 875
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Superb Quality Large Antique Carved Hardwood Chinese Figure
£ 1,085
Superb Quality Large Antique Carved Hardwood Chinese Figure
£ 1,085
Unique Antiques By Emma Jade
Wick Antiques Ltd
Black Forest Walnut Plaque of the “Lion of Lucerne”
£ 1,250
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
17th Century Carved Wall Sculpture Sir Edward Massey Governor City of Gloucester
£ 9,500
17th Century Carved Wall Sculpture Sir Edward Massey Governor City of Gloucester
£ 9,500
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
£ 2,500
Cloverleaf Home Interiors
Decoy Duck Bluebill Treen Folk Art c.1900
£ 145
Treehouse Antiques
Carved Black Forest Bear Hallstand
£ 6,250
Robert Belcher Antiques
A Large Chinese Hand Carved Soapstone Landscape Circa 1900
£ 1,795
Robert Belcher Antiques
Highly Decorative Pair of Carved Giltwood & Lacquer Chinese Buddhist Lions
£ 1,250
Highly Decorative Pair of Carved Giltwood & Lacquer Chinese Buddhist Lions
£ 1,250
Robert Belcher Antiques
£ 985
Antique Buddhist Avalokiteshvara Figure, Asian, Bronze Deity, Icon c.1900
£ 985
London Fine Ltd
IM Chaney Antique Furniture
Pair of 18th Century Carved Oak Plaques of Clasical Scenes
£ 400
Elmgarden
Large Black Forest Carved Eagle
£ 8,000
Alain Michel Antiques
Virgin & Child in Walnut - 17th Century From France
€ 2,400
Whites Antiques
Large 19th Century Rhino Hand Carved from Solid Ebony
£ 575
Robert Belcher Antiques
Large Pair of Indian Teak Raj Period Elephants c.1880
£ 1,650
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Large Art Nouveau Copper Crane Bird Oval Wall Sculpture Plaque
£ 750
Large Art Nouveau Copper Crane Bird Oval Wall Sculpture Plaque
£ 750
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Church Street Antiques
19th Century Chinese Root Wood Carving
£ 1,350
Country House and Eastern Interiors
Large Chinese Red & Gilt Lacquered Wood Figure of Guanyin Buddha (Qing Dynasty 1644-1911)
£ 1,450
Large Chinese Red & Gilt Lacquered Wood Figure of Guanyin Buddha (Qing Dynasty 1644-1911)
£ 1,450
Country House and Eastern Interiors
Robert Belcher Antiques
Early 20th Century Canadian Folk Art Maple Wood Carved Inuit Figure Group
£ 685
Early 20th Century Canadian Folk Art Maple Wood Carved Inuit Figure Group
£ 685
Robert Belcher Antiques
London City Antiques
Large Antique 19th Century Quality Carved Black Forest Bear
£ 1,050
London City Antiques
Large Antique 19th Century Quality Carved Black Forest Bear
£ 1,050
Lambert & Co.
Inuit Soapstone Carving of a Seal Hunter
£ 80
Wick Antiques Ltd
A 'Black Forest’ Linden Wood Model of a Standing Bull
£ 2,850
Koos Limburg Jnr
18th Century Wooden Sculpture / Holy Water Font
£ 2,750
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
15th Century George & the Dragon Carved Oak Relief
£ 2,250
15th Century George & the Dragon Carved Oak Relief
£ 2,250
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Carved Boxwood Applique in Style of Andrea Brustolon
£ 1,565
Carved Boxwood Applique in Style of Andrea Brustolon
£ 1,565
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
A Set of Three Early Gargoyle Limestone Figures
£ 1,395
Rees Antiques
Carved Wooden Bird on an Antique Stand
£ 175
Robert Belcher Antiques
A Large Black Forest Carved Limewood Study of a Monk Circa 1900
£ 1,295
A Large Black Forest Carved Limewood Study of a Monk Circa 1900
£ 1,295
Robert Belcher Antiques
£ 985
Antique Carved Lion Figure, English, Giltwood, Decorative Ornament, Mid Georgian
£ 985
London Fine Ltd
£ 12,500
Impressive Sculpture of Christ Carrying the Cross on His Way to Calvary Circa 1560
£ 12,500
Koos Limburg Jnr
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
19th Century Church Carving of Saint
£ 320
Robert Belcher Antiques
Pair of Fine Black Forest Hand Carved Wood Bears c.1900
£ 795
London City Antiques
Large Antique Chinese Quality Carved Hardwood Figure
£ 885
Sunnyside Antiques
Polychrome African Sculpture
£ 345
Sunnyside Antiques
Large Carved Stone Statues
£ 9,850
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
19th Century Hardwood Chinese Deity Zhong Kui Sculpture
£ 150
19th Century Hardwood Chinese Deity Zhong Kui Sculpture
£ 150
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Robert Belcher Antiques
Japanese Meiji Period Carved Hardwood Prowling Tiger
£ 465
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
19th Century Pugin Design Carved Tiger Oak Heraldic Lion Shield Sculpture
£ 3,900
19th Century Pugin Design Carved Tiger Oak Heraldic Lion Shield Sculpture
£ 3,900
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Trade Antiques
Carved Saint 5ft Italian Original Paint 1830
£ 22,500