Stone carving

The stone carver carves figures and architectural ornaments etc. largely by sight of eye, but also with the help of square, compass and template where there is a crossover of masonry and ornamental elements, for example in capitals or decorated mouldings.

• Stone carving
• Moulding
• Casting
• Clay sculpting
• Pointing (traditional way of transferring from maquette to final product)
• Design

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• Lapidary
• Letter cutting
• Stone restoration
• Portrait carving

• Training issues: While there are numerous qualifications in stonemasonry, there is only one qualification specifically for stone carving. The City & Guilds of London Art School offers two-year Diploma courses, three-year BA Hons degree Courses and an MA in Architectural Stone Carving, validated by Ravensbourne University London. Some art schools have sculpture departments but they do not offer technical instruction in the skills of stone carving.
• Market issues: Lack of demand. There are enough people to satisfy the current market – the market dictates the number of people involved so the employment figures are always fluctuating.
• Market issues: Lack of support by architects.

• City & Guilds of London Art School – offers a BA (Hons) Carving: Architecutural Stone
• National Association of Memorial Masons
• Master Carvers Association
• Stone Federation of Great Britain
• The Masons Company
• Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship
• StoneTrain
• Construction Industry Training Board
• The Building Crafts College
• Memorials by Artists
• Learningstone – A trust set up to celebrate the culture, history and skills legacy of Portland

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The Master Carvers Association have a list of members on their website.

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