Peter Follansbee carving

[Blackswanwood]

Has anyone else had a go at a Follansbee type carving and found it’s A LOT harder than it looks or is it just me?

My first attempt was in oak but it seemed to be very unforgiving and brittle. It was kiln dried and had been sat in the workshop for some time. I am wondering if it was “too dry” (reading off the meter is 10%) and if PF uses “greener” timber.

I’ve repeated the exercise using cherry and it’s much easier … but still not as easy as he makes it look.

 

[AndyT]

I haven't got past watching the videos and thinking "I ought to have a go at that..."

I think you are right that he does use relatively green wood - which he gets in the round and rives himself. That way, he's in control of the moisture content.

I've got some bits of very old, dry oak that I don't think would be suitable at all for carving.

I do think your piece looks brilliant. I expect that you are still very aware of every slight imperfection, but to anyone else, it's the overall impression that counts.

There are some great examples from the 17th century locally and looking at them, I've noticed that old work definitely has places on it that look rough or careless, but we see them now as giving part of its charm. It's also clear how closely the patterns are linked to using a small number of gouges, making cuts that directly match their shape, thus making production relatively efficient.

 

[AJB Temple]

Yes, i have tried it. Dry oak is very difficult. It is easy enough to carve the shapes but getting a smooth base in anything that is not a V shape variant is a right pain. I ended up making a small scraping tool to deal with the depths and cursing my folly.

 

[MartinF]

Andy - you mention that there are some great examples from the 17th century locally. I'd be interested to know where they are so I can have a look.

 

[AndyT]

I was thinking of the Red Lodge museum in Bristol - https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/red-lodge-museum/

My photos are mostly of the furniture rather than close-ups of the carving, but should give you a flavour:















And I got my dates wrong - most of this is sixteenth century work!

 

[AndyT]

I also found these from East Riddlesden Hall, if you're up north at all...

 

[Cabinetman]

That last pic Andy, reminded me that I went there 30 odd years ago with my children, and the old guide had such a thick Yorkshire accent that when I asked him what that chest was for I couldn’t work out whether he said it was for oats or ought, didn’t have the heart to ask lol.
Just west of Leeds in case you were wondering.

 

[MartinF]

Thanks Andy. Although we have lived in Bristol for over 40 years, we’ve only rarely visited Red Lodge. For some years, we used to go to what was then the annual Savages exhibitions in The Wigwam but have probably only been to see the rest of the museum once in all the time we’ve been here. However, as it happens, I’ve got an appointment at the Eye Hospital next Monday so will try and pay the museum a visit on the way home.