Methods & Tools
Before the first pneumatic air hammer was invented in 1888, stone carving was accomplished through the use of hammer and chisel. The pneumatic hammer was invented as a way to use compressed air as a substitute for a traditional hammer - increasing the speed of the stone carving process and reducing manual labor. Handheld chisels are used with the pneumatic hammer, which had allowed carvers to continue using traditional hand carving techniques. Although sandblasting (compressed air mixed with an abrasive medium, or “sand”) was invented in 1870, it wasn’t until the 1940’s that this method had pretty much completely replaced hand tools for carving lettering and illustrative artwork.
So Why Does This Matter?
For sandblasting lettering and designs, stencils are made using computers and are attached to the stone. A mix of compressed air and a sandblasting medium is essentially sprayed at this rubber stencil, and the abrasive sand wears away whatever stone is not covered by this rubber mat. This allows for all of the letters to be carved out in a quick progression. After the sandblasting process is completed, letters or designs can be spray-painted with lithochromatic paint very quickly while this same stencil is still attached to the stone. After the paint is dry, the stencil is removed, the stone is cleaned up, and it is finished. There are a lot of advantages to this method, sandblasting lettering for monuments and memorial stones is cheaper and much faster. However, there are also a lot of disadvantages… When you gain speed and efficiency, sometimes you lose quality.
The Craft.
Although sandblasting lettering for monuments and memorials is much faster and it is less expensive, it is not a method I use for any of the projects I work on.
In my opinion, a majority of the finest stone sculpture, monuments, and memorial stones in the U.S were crafted between 1888 and 1940. At that time stone was commonly used in architecture, stone carving was a booming industry. Skilled craftsmen had learned traditional hand carving techniques from older generations, but they also had access to these pneumatic tools that helped them produce a lot of work while maintaining their traditional techniques. They were still able to carve each and every letter, illustration, or sculptural piece with care and attention… but they were able to accomplish this much faster with these new pneumatic chisels. Increased production rates also allowed stone carvers to work with more granite and harder rock types. This was the golden era of stone carving (in my opinion anyway).
Modern architecture uses very little stone and sandblasting has largely taken over the monument/memorial industry - speed and automation have replaced a lot of the skill and craftsmanship that used to be a requirement for such work. Stone carving with older methods is a dying artform. Although stone carvers from the turn of the last century are no longer alive, the work they had left behind has acted as one of my best teachers. And although I use some modern tools, this work represents the skill, quality, and style that I strive for in every project.
You will notice that most of my vases and planters are not round or circular. This is because there are a lot of round vases (commonly used as urns in cemeteries) that were fabricated using a stone lathe. The stone lathe is not a new technology, early concepts and primitive machines were developed by the Egyptians for the fabrication of stone jars, urns, and possibly their columns used in architecture. In modern times, the US markets are flooded with stone urns or vases that are generally fabricated by companies outside of the US where labor costs are much lower. Because what I make is shaped entirely by hand, I take pride in developing profiles and symmetries for vases and planters that cannot be made by these methods that lend themselves to mass production.
The rock that I carve and how I carve it is a direct result of my love and deep admiration of the craft and the medium. If you would like to learn more about this process, contact me and I would happily answer any questions!
