The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-05-10
Ingenious Wood carvers.


Over west side doorway is the invit-
ing sign, "Artistic .Bric-a-brac. In a
small square room up one flight of stairs
were several tables laden with many curl
Gus and interesting productions of Germay
and Swiss artists. "The Swiss peasantrn
are the greatest wood carvers in the world, !"
the proprietor said Carving seems to be
as natural to them as eating. They carve
out of wood, with wonderful ingenuity,
anything from simple paper knife to an
elaborate piece of architecture in miniature.
Aside from wood carving and some other
mechanical occupations they are not good
for anything, being very simple, ignorant
people. But they have genius for carv-
ing, and have natural skill for copying
from nature. Their floral pieces are re-
garded as masterpieces, and serve as models
for young sculptors. 1t is only necessary
to furnish them Photographic design of
what is wanted. Most dealers who import
Swiss carvings do this, although the Swiss
peasantry produce numberless things them
selves without the aid of any suggestions.
They carve out of wood almost every kind
of fancy article, such as ink stands, nut
crackers, jewelry cases, cuckoo clocks,
ladies work boxes, and large number Of
other things, too numerous to mention
The tools they use are very simple, the
carving being all done by hand. The arti-
cles they carve are ingeniously ornamented
with leaves and flowers, and some of their
designs are extremely odd; they are always
artistic Here is piece of carving in the
shape of a nut cracker. 1t is a life-like rep
resentation of bear on its launches Of
course it is made more for ornament than
for use, butts artistic merit is worthy of care
full study. The Swiss have mack of turning
the most simple article into real work of
art Take this book rack for instance" :"
The dealer produced very simple form Of
book holder for the library table, having
two side pieces on sliding base. "See
how artistically the side pieces are carved,
showing in bold relief double rose sur
rounded with mass of leaves and vines.
sOne Advantage the Swiss have is the
wood which they use. This is remarkably
fine, and free from knots, and tool cuts it
as easily across as with the grain. The
kind mostly used is known to the trade as
peach wood, which it closely resembles in
every respect Another kind ofwood which
is largely used is called satin wood. This
has pure white color, and, like the other
variety, is entirely free from knots, and pc
culiarly even in respect to hardness.
''The skill of the Swiss in carving wood
first attracted notice about fifty years ago.
1t was not, however, until years afterward
that it was turned to account in a CONNER
cial point of view, and even then the sales
of Swiss carvings were restricted to tourists
in the summer season, who made their
purchases through the intermediary of ho-
tel porters. Hence the trade was for a
long time very small and unremunerative.
But in the course of time local capitalists
took the matterin hand, opened workshops,
and began an export trade. The business
of wood carving now finds employment for
several hundred persons. In fact, in one
establishment three hundred persons of
both sexes are regularly employed. The
women have great delicacy Of touch, and
their work in certain branches is preferred
to that of men. Each artisan employed in
the workshops has his or her speciality, the
choice of which is left to individual taste.
Some have an aptitude for and excel in the
modelling of groups of animals; others pre-
fer to carve various fancy articles with
floral patterns and some build miniature
chalets The latter is one of the most popular
articles of Swiss handiwork As usually
made it is composed of different colored
woods. The thatches, with the stones and
ropes to hold them on, and the deep roof
are prominent features The lower story
shows stable, while the upper stories are
made to indicate the family dwelling. The
surroundings, including the fence, court
yard, pump, and spring, are also given.
The roof is so constructed that it can be
raised like lid, and the part which repre-
sents the upper stories is lined with plush,
and is intended as the receptacle for jew
els. A movable partition divides this also
from the first story, which contains music
box, which is set going by lifting the top
cover. The prices of these articles range
from SO to $35.
''Few dealers make speciality of Swiss
carvings, for the reason that the produc-
tion is very limited, owing to inability to
turn out the goods fast enough by hand.
Besides, all the rare bits of carving are
made by the peasants at their homes in the
Alps, who work only during the winter
season. In the summer they are occupied
in tilling the soil and tending their herds
of goats on the hillsides, pursuit which
they love so much that no money could en-
tice them from it.