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| Architectural Carving |
Patrick Damiaens
By
Denzil Walton Journalist
In the 17th century, the Belgian town of Liege became
highly prosperous through its coal mining, metal processing and glass refining
industries.
Over
the years, it evolved into a fashionable residence for princes, aristocracy and
wealthy merchants who could spend lavishly on expensive furniture. As most
skilled craftsmen from the surrounding regions were invited to work there, the
city soon became famous for Furniture characterized by beautifully and
delicately carved decoration.
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| Woodcarving studio - Architectural Carving Patrick Damiaens in Belgium |
Three hundred years later, Liege-style furniture
is still being created and carved to the highest levels of quality. From his
workshop in Maaseik, Belgium, Patrick Damiaens is a reassuring reminder that
even in these
days of mass-manufactured furniture, there is still a demand for the
traditional skills of a master artisan. He studied three years at the Don
Bosco Institute in Liege, where he learned the complex trade of ornamental
woodcarving. He spent six years studying furniture- making and one year
woodcarving in his
hometown
of Maaseik. Today, Damiaens is the only full-time ornamental woodcarver in
Flanders, the Dutch-speaking half of Belgium.
Patrick
works in close cooperation with four colleagues: a staircase-maker, two
cabinet-makers and a furniture restorer. Between them, they turn planks of
rough French oak into stunning cupboards, chests of drawers, wardrobes, door
frames, staircases, stereo cabinets and decorative panels. We can make and
decorate virtually any
item of furniture,” Damiaens exclaims enthusiastically.
To
make an item of Liege-style furniture is a highly complex process. The
preparatory technical drawings can take a full month and every item of
furniture requires a totally new set of drawings. His first task is to make a
rough sketch of the pattern, which might be based on an original item of
furniture or created by Damiaens himself. This is then presented to the
customer.
The
final technical drawing is redrawn on tracing paper and pinned to the selected
panel of wood. The design is then transferred onto the wood, which in most
cases is French oak.
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| Liege style furniture |
The
next stage is the only time that Damiaens uses a machine (apart from one to
sharpen his tools). He skillfully manipulates a router to remove the bulk of
the wood surrounding the design, after which the actual hand carving can begin.
With respect, patience and much artistic craft, Damiaens carves each motif
until he finds the right expression and character. Once the carving is
completed, the panel is returned to the cabinetmaker to be treated and
incorporated into the intended piece of furniture, be it an 18th century
reproduction piece or an individual creation.
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| Architectural carving for panelling |
Damiaens
is enthralled with the variety of projects he is asked to undertake, as well as
the larger pieces of furniture which easily take eight months to a year to
complete. For a German client, he is currently building and decorating a
Georgian-style library. In between these large projects, he carves and
decorates a range of smaller, custom-made architectural carving.
Patrick likes to challenge himself with exciting new carving designs. Most recently, he
is utilizing the style of 17th century English woodcarvers, who created
wonderful trophies and exquisite cascades of flowers, fruit and leaves, which
are applied to paneling, walls and even chimneys.
So detailed and refined are
these carvings that in certain light they look natural and lifelike, and have
been likened to lacework.
“I
still try to add a personal contemporary touch to these high-relief carvings,”
explains Damiaens. “I see them as my children.”
By Denzil Walton
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