Wood Carvings - Collecting

There is an excellent history of wood carving in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, which will provide a good introduction to the subject. If, however, you plan to collect old carvings, you must depend upon the advice of an expert, at least until you have had the time to delve more deeply into the subject through the many books in public libraries.

Your best source of old carvings is the antique dealer. Contemporary wood carvings, which make attractive home decorations, are available in many shops and department stores. You will find them on sale throughout the world in hotel lobbies, at air terminals, railroad stations, souvenir shops and, particularly in Europe, on steamship piers.

If you are in one of the larger cities, there are probably a number of unique shops that specialize in the products of some one country or area. You will find them in the telephone book under such names as "Sweden House" or "African Art Gallery." The names vary, of course, but they are generally self-explanatory, and the name of the country or area is invariably the first word of the shop's name.

From time to time, you will find articles on wood sculpture, in both art and antique magazines. But you will probably find that your greatest satisfaction lies in stumbling on a discovery and acquiring your carving direct from its creator. This of course requires some traveling; your objective may be as far away as Timbuctoo, as relatively accessible as Nova Scotia or New Mexico, or as near-to-hand as the bootmaker on the corner who whittles in his spare time.

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