Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-19

tors handling; gives the sttatuette the
appearance of growing beneath the
n mnmb "a deeeptiy;e fea,nre to which
work with true artists IL believed IL
have been dnc. The fllc leaves the fig
| urc with n definite. rude outline like 4
clay model. but with no features 10 the
head. nothing but the line Of tho pose.
| Thcn Is used the graver, chiscl made
In variety Of shapes. curved, straight
OF such cxquisitely tempered steel that
| for years all of them were made in Eng
land: the small number. practically
| Speaking. in use probably having some
thing to do with this fact.
| The loft hand of the artist holds the
| ivory. while the grayer. icVeiied by the
| two iorcnngers penetrates where the
| file could not, forming cavities for the
| eyes. leaving standing the ears. nose.
| the contour Of the neck and face and
the folds Of the drapery and the tool
| is worked only by the strength of the
.ngcrs and wrist.
The statuctte has at last assumed
| human form. from now ii grows, lives,
| all hut breathcs. beneath the magic
| touch Of its creator. IL Is as a child. Sand
the dawn ana growth of eXpression. s<ver
| Increasing. ever rerfecting. leads The
artist 10 love his work TO an extent APP
parently impossible in any other branch
of art. Take the figure. perfect I'm outline.
bat without expression: the face. perfect
In feature. but also lacking expression; a
white ghost Of figure figure only; 1t
can he mistaken for nothing else.
Then comes IN the highest art Of the
worker. with his 'scraper." a many
sized tool. Ike a set 81 dental instru-
ments. a series OF sharp cuts rsade with
a perfect knowledge OF anatomy, and q
modern miracle is worked. 1t is as
when a sleeping child smiles. The IineJ
around the mouth. nose and eyes appear.
the ear is turned to catch j sound. tne
pupils OF The eyes dilaIe. and every
line grows with life. but the end is no;
yet over and over again the artist
! ne al a re-
Inc thiriy-secund part Of Inc too deep
or too long may turn a young face into
~ Oh one. may give 70 the pensiyc
pose yivid suggestion Cf unwelcome
diablerie. and at last. So far as the cary
ing goes, the s;atIette is finished.
Now comes the polishing, mystic
change. which turns the semi-rough sur
face to the downy texture o. human
skin. 10 an extent that marble. cold mar
bic. can never hope to approach Here
Is shown the exquisite skill IN choosing
the piece for working. " woman the
naked flesh will appear most natural.
the amy. yellow hue OF the ivory Civ
ing suhcutaneous effect. a glossy. sat
intN suggestion which Is beyond descrp-
tion. but which grows as IL by magic be
meath the fingers 81 the producer. No
tools are used here.
Grades OF pumiCc stone. starting with
that coarse as sand to that impa pa BIZ,
as powder. applied with a curious clrCI-
iatory motor. which warns the surface
and never permits IL to cool until after
repeated and patient applica tiuns On felt
and leather pads there is produced a
polish which few substance attain. Ill
the subject be OF human form the veins
are CunninEly simulated on tie skin SO
that they appear to lie under 1t. the dell
cate run oi the ivory grain III its ever
varying light and SHADE. seems to fol-
low tn" gland system ~ the human skin.
ana from the day the statuettc leaves
the workers hands there commences an
everlasting and unceaSnc subtle change.
mel,"wiEc Of that which Do words cal.
APPLY JesCr.hc and. SO far. - art lmi-
tate.
Asc alone llaC,- It's sign manIal on
the product uf the IVORY craft n is
little wonder that iu Am thc ages the
worker IN ivnry hat been luIthc "a
do other work until actually driven to ii
10y want. To-day. nothing hut elephant
ivory is used IN the past there wa s
walrus, narwhal. uychau. and mann
moth IESks vary from ~ feet long.
weighing - pounds. ~ smaller ones
and the price IL about 81 4, pound Mar
whal ivory IS unlimited ia supply. uw-
ing to tho discovery ul great duautitic,
In The arctic regions. where for untold
y"ars. II has been preserved in the ice.
Il X VI 10 use for tine ivory carving.
but 81 used IN all inferior types nf work
such Is w-pricri umbrella ana stick
handles. chcap chcSsmcn ana frames
IL Is easily toid by its appearance. AMI
can mover deceive any on" who has once
seen 4 carving IF elephant ivory.-IIomc
MAGAZINE