Blog Category

Furniture Carving

Every blog article filed under Furniture Carving.

August 10, 2026

How to carve a replacement that matches an antique

A client sent me a photograph and an order for fifteen rosettes. No antique, just the picture. Here is what actually gives a new carving away, and the tool that fixes it.

August 10, 2026

Wood Carving for Furniture Makers

Furniture carving is low relief work that rarely goes deeper than three eighths of an inch: panels, moldings, rosettes, and onlays. The skills that come first, the bench tools that already carve, and the first panel to learn on.

August 10, 2026

How to carve an acanthus over a molding

A running acanthus over a molding is a repeating carved leaf that follows a molded profile instead of a flat panel. The order of work, the sweeps, and the undercut that makes the leaf read as applied.

August 6, 2026

Applied carving or carving in the solid: how I choose

An applied onlay is carved on its own board and glued on, while carving in the solid cuts the ornament into the piece itself. Here is how I choose between them at the bench.

July 30, 2026

How Can I Learn to Carve Acanthus Leaves in Wood?

Acanthus leaf carving is the craft of cutting the classical leaf of Greek and Roman ornament into wood with gouges. Five leaf parts, seven tools, a basswood board, and eight steps take a beginner to a clean first leaf.