Wood carving is a form of working wood
by means of a hurtful tool (knife) in one hand or a chisel by two hands or with
one hand on a chisel and one hand on a hammer, resulting in a wooden figure or
figurine, or in the sculptural ornamentation of a wooden object.
The phrase may
also refer to the finished product, from individual sculptures to hand-worked
mouldings composing part of a tracery.
The making of carving in wood has been
extremely widely practiced but survives much less well than the other main
materials such as stone and bronze, as it is vulnerable to decay, insect
damage, and fire.
It therefore forms an important hidden element in the art history
of many cultures. Outdoor wood sculptures do not last long in most parts of the
world, so that we have little idea how the totem pole tradition developed.
Many
of the most important sculptures of China and Japan in particular are in wood,
and the great majority of African sculpture and that of Oceania and other
regions.
Wood is light and can take very fine detail so it is highly suitable
for masks and other sculpture intended to be worn or carried. It is also much
easier to work than stone.
