MATERIAL
Wood: warm, natural, never twice the same
The only material in our range that already has its own history before we begin working with it. The grain helps determine how the sculpture turns out, and that grain is different in every piece.
A wooden sculpture is carved or milled from solid wood. Wood species, grain direction and drying determine both the appearance and the durability of the result.
What wood says
Wood is warm and approachable. It invites touch and suits interiors where metal would feel too cool. For a memorial sculpture that goes home with the family, or for an entrance with plenty of wood and textile, it is often the natural choice.
The material is also headstrong: the grain runs the way it runs, and a good woodcarver works with that rather than against it. As a result, a wooden sculpture is never exactly reproducible, not even by us.
How we make it
First the choice of wood: species, block and grain direction, matched to the design. The wood needs to be sufficiently dried, because working with wood that is too fresh leads to cracking later on.
The sculpture is then carved or milled and finished by hand: sanding to the desired smoothness, then oiling, waxing or lacquering. That finish determines how much the grain comes forward.
Where it fits
Indoors. Wood outdoors requires intensive maintenance and moves with the seasons; for permanent outdoor placement we recommend metal. Indoors, wood is excellent, provided it is not placed directly next to a heater or in full sun, both of which cause drying out and cracking.
Ageing and maintenance
Wood lives. It changes colour over the years, usually darker, and it responds to the humidity in the room. Small cracks along the grain are part of the material and do not affect the sculpture.
Maintenance depends on the finish: oiled work needs periodic re-oiling, lacquered work needs almost nothing. We discuss the durability of the wood species and origin per project; we make no general claims about it.
Lead time and price
The carving work determines the lead time; the drying of the wood happens beforehand. In price, wood species, size and the complexity of the carving are decisive.
A sculpture in wood?
Tell us the story and the setting; our experts advise on wood species, size and finish.