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:
“Justice and truth are too such subtle points that our tools are too blunt to touch them accurately.”
—Blaise Pascal (1623–1662)
“The besetting sin of able men is impatience of contradiction and of criticism. Even those who do their best to resist the temptation, yield to it almost unconsciously and become the tools of toadies and flatterers. “Authorities,” “disciples,” and “schools” are the curse of science and do more to interfere with the work of the scientific spirit than all its enemies.”
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95)
“But lo! men have become the tools of their tools.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)