The Lost Carving: A Journey to the Heart of Making
Serious connoisseurs of woodcarving will recognize Grinling Gibbons as the name of  one of the craft’s preeminent masters of floral reproduction. Commissioned primarily by the British royalty between the late 1600s and early 1700s, Gibbons became famous for his astoundingly detailed and lifelike renderings of plant life in wood. When in 1986 a devastating fire at Hampton Court Palace destroyed a Gibbons masterpiece, the search went out for someone who could faithfully restore it. Enter master woodcarver and lifelong Gibbons devotee Esterly. Working from journals he kept during the yearlong project, Esterly engagingly describes the challenges he faced, both professionally and psychologically, in reproducing his idol’s  work, from political controversy—the royals wanted a Brit, and Esterly is American—to fears of failing his craft. Along the way, readers also get acquainted with Gibbons’ own tribulations and learn how Esterly works. Although few photos of his carving projects are included here, Esterly’s masterfully witty and nuanced prose makes it clear his writing prowess is at least on par with his woodworking skills. --Carl Hays