The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-05-10
Ingenious WOOd-Caryers.

over a West side doorway is the in
wiling sign: "Artistic Bric-a-brac." In
a small, square room up one fight of
stairs were several tables laden with
many curious and interesting produc-
tons OF German and Swiss artists.
"Ihe Swiss peasantry are the greatest
wood-carverS in the world" the pro-
prietor 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 carving, and have a
natural skill for copying from nature.
Their floral pieces are regarded as
masterpieces, and serve as models for
young sculptors. 1t is only necessary
to furnish them a Photographic design
OF what is wanted. Most dealers who
import Swiss carvings do this, although
the Swiss peasantry produce number
less things themselves without the aid
~
wood almost every kind of fancy article,
such as ink stands, nut crackers, jewel
ry cases, cuckoo clocks, ladies work
boxes, and large number of other
things too numerous to mention. The
tools they use are very simple, the cary
ing being all done by hand The arti-
cles they carve are ingeniously orna-
mented with leaves and flowers, and
some of their designs are extremely
odd; they are always artistic. Here is
3 piece Of carving in the shape of a
nut-cracker. 1t is u life-like repre-
sentation of bear on its launches. Of
course, it is made more for ornament
than for use, hut its artistic merit is
worthy of careful study. The Swiss
have knack for turning the most
simple article into a real work of art
Take this bookrack, for instance"
The dealer produced avery simple form
of book-holder for the library table,
having two side pieces on a sliding
base. "See how artistically the side
pieces are carved, showing in bold re-
lief a double rose surrounded with a
mass of leaves and vines.
Zone advantage the Swiss have is
the wood which they use. This is re-
markedly 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 of wood
which is largely used is called satin
wood. This has q pure white color,
and, like the other variety, is entirely
free from knots, and peculiarly even in
respectto 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 q commercial point of view,
and even then the sales of Swiss carvings
were restricted to the tourists in the
summer season, who made their pur-
chases through the Intermediary of hotel
porters. Hence trade for long time
was very small and unremuneratlve.
But in the course of time local capt
talists took the matter in hand, opened
workshops and tegan an export trade.
The business of wood-carving now finds
employment for several hundred per
sons. In fact in one establishment SOC
persons of both sexes are regularly en-
ployed. The women have great delicacy
OF touch, and their work in certain
branches Tla rs PreIerreo 10 tnat Oh men
l E"on AZ Vi9"h ohPioyeu - an1 WI ~ n,
snops mas ms y: me- sPe?iai!y: vnt
onoic0 % WHICH 10 loIU W inIslv i'.''''
cas.e 9 th naF1 an %PtrauuG iot 81 "nI
eAcel III .nc inQt1iins vi SlouPo VI UNI
mas, o. t;is Pr1ieI ~ az naiIouI
AMY ai! i9 WIN nol t'l paV'0i M w. 1iu
sum ouliu - , thn nS4 o'I Iou ant;a lnU
Ier IS one Vi iiie llioS' PoPuia[, ,, a'1lci J
~ ?"isS nanun%oi ~ d nS usually si h,not
- 'oiT N.Y. 4oLo. LEI ii ~ oo 49,
"oous. nc L Vn%'t 49, WIN .II S' ~
anu ropes W holu Iilehl OIL anu ~, Vh1 ueeO
story shows a table, while the upper
stories are IN Ilaue 70 lhu5cale Ine ialnIl