Tools
The Italian terms for the basic carving tools of stone sculpture are given here, and where possible the English terms have been included.
- La Mazza - The mallet. This is used to strike the chisel.
- Gli Scalpelli - The chisels. These come in various types:
- La Subbia - (the Point) a pointed chisel or punch
- L'Unghietto - (Round or Rondel Chisel) Literally, "little fingernail"
- La Gradina - (Toothed Chisel or Claw) a chisel with multiple teeth-
- Lo Scalpello - a flat chisel
- Lo Scapezzatore - (Pitcher or Pitching Tool) a hefty chisel with a broad blunt edge, for splitting.
- Il Martello Pneumatico - Pneumatic hammer
- Il Flessibile - an angle grinder, fitted with an electrolysis-applied diamond studded blade
- Hand Drill
In addition to those hand tools listed above, the marble sculptor would use a variety of hammers - both for the striking of edge tools (chisels and hand drills) and for striking the stone directly (Bocciarda a Martello in Italian, Boucharde in French, Bush Hammer in English). Following the work of the hammer and chisel, the sculptor will sometimes refine the form further through the use of Rasps, Files and Abrasive Rubbing Stones and/or Sandpaper to smooth the surface contours of the form. To achieve a high-lustre polish on marble a very fine abrasive, tin oxide, is used following the use of pumice or finer grits of sandpaper.
Read more about this topic: Marble Sculpture
Famous quotes containing the word tools:
“At the utmost, the active-minded young man should ask of his teacher only mastery of his tools. The young man himself, the subject of education, is a certain form of energy; the object to be gained is economy of his force; the training is partly the clearing away of obstacles, partly the direct application of effort. Once acquired, the tools and models may be thrown away.”
—Henry Brooks Adams (1838–1918)
“But lo! men have become the tools of their tools.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Man is a tool-using animal.... Without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all.”
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881)