The golden badge of honour 'Elites of Labour' | Royal Institute of the Elites | A recognition from the Belgian federal government

Patrick Damiaens | Ornamental Woodcarver

The golden badge of honour  "The Elites of Labour" 

A recognition from the Belgian federal government

Every year hundreds of Belgians from various industries are given the badge of honour for the "Eliten van de Arbeid" (Elites of Labour), to praise them for their professional efforts and merits. This nomination is awarded by royal decree and is published in the Belgian Bulletin of Acts, Orders and Decrees. 
On the one hand, a badge of honour is awarded during an official event, and on the other hand, a certificate is traditionally presented by the mayor of your municipality. 

The golden badge of honour 'Elites of Labour'

Quite an honour!

For 25 years now, my activities as a woodcarver have been a constant source of pleasure and satisfaction, and I even consider my work to be a personal quest, wherein my goal consists of bringing quality work to my environment, as an ambassador of sorts, who wishes to introduce the next generations to the complexity of my profession
This passion and attitude towards my profession has not gone by unnoticed by a number of technical committees, experts and jury members of the "Elites of Labour"(Eliten van de Arbeid) from the wood industry.
The Commissioner-General of the government to the Royal Institute of the "Elites of Labour" (Eliten van de Arbeid) has chosen to honour me because of my exceptional efforts, my professionalism and resolve, and has seen fit to reward me with the golden badge of honour for the "Elites of Labour".

The "Elites of Labour" 

The badge of honour for the "Elites of Labour" can be awarded in the form of a bronze, silver or golden badge of honour.

I received the golden badge of honour during an official award ceremony on March 2015 in Namur.

 

A recognition from the Belgian federal government

Historical outlining "Elites of Labour"  
( Eliten van de Arbeid)

 










The Royal Institute for the "Eliten van de Arbeid" has been awarding badges of honour for the last 60 years now. This relatively unknown organisation praises employers and employees who are a shining example for their profession.
 
In 1929, the engineer Paul Lacoste and the representative of the people Fernand Van Ackere suggested that Belgium should start with an initiative based on the French awards the "Meilleurs Ouvriers de France" and the "Expositions Nationales du Travail". King Albert I was completely taken in by this idea.

This badge of honour is awarded under the supervision of the Commissioner-General of the governement to the Royal Institute for the "Elites of Labour" (Eliten van de Arbeid). This badge is meant as an incentive for workers from every Belgian industry, and is awarded in recognition of their professional knowledge, quality-mindedness, as well as their drive for initiative and perfection. 
In 1930, following King Leopold I, who in 1835 and 1841 organised the first exhibitions regarding products of industry and craftsmanship, King Albert I organised the first National Labour exhibition under the supervision of the Commissioner-General of the government. 

 

https://www.patrickdamiaens.info

Architectural Carving Custom-made | TRADITIONAL WOOD CARVING | MASTER WOODCARVER PATRICK DAMIAENS | Custom-made Ornaments

Architectural Carving

Ornamental Woodcarver 

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. 

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.

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.

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

MORE INFO :WEBSITE PATRICK DAMIAENS

MEMBER OF PEARLS OF CRAFTSMANSHIP

 

CARVING A ROCOCO-ORNAMENT | Museum aan het Vrijthof | Patrick Damiaens Ornamental Woodcarver

Ornamental Woodcarver Patrick Damiaens

Carving a ROCOCO - ornament in oak

For the Museum aan het Vrijthof 

in Maastricht (Netherlands)

  

The museum is a historical house on the famous Vrijthof square with something for both tourists and the residents of Maastricht. The museum presents the history of those who lived in the city of Maastricht in the form of art works and in beautifully designed everyday objects from furniture to horsemen's guns, from silver candelabras to watches. The interior of the room makes way a few times each year for exhibitions. 

However, the focus always lies on the five centuries of the entire city of Maastricht’s cultural identity. It is a history we display to be discovered, explained and experienced. That is the reason the Museum aan het Vrijthof, which up until recently was also known as the Museum of the Spanish Government, exists. 

Drink in the spirit of Maastricht. Feel the history. Admire arts and crafts from the past. Lose yourself in the sensation of becoming part of life in the 18th century. You will be given the opportunity to gain knowledge, to see where the connections lie, and to simply enjoy so many of the beautiful things produced by Maastricht’s artists and craftsmen in the past.

http://www.museumaanhetvrijthof.nl

WOODCARVING: Patrick Damiaens  at the " Museum Aan Het Vrijthof "   Maastricht in the Netherlands.Patrick Damiaens at work.
The making of an Rococo-ornament in oak.

WOODCARVING : Patrick Damiaens (Belgium)  made a German Rococo Applique for this Museum in Maastricht  in the Netherlands . The work will be displayed in the permanent collection of the museum together with this film. To give the visitor a better picture of the complexity of the work of a mastercraftsman. 

More info at

 http://www.patrickdamiaens.be

  This little movie was made by producer Vincent Oudendijk  

http://www.EclipseAV.nl

Main sponsor of the Museum renovation is 

 "The European Fine Art  Fair "  

The TEFAF Maastricht .

http://www.tefaf.com

https://www.patrickdamiaens.info

MASTER WOODCARVER | Ornamental Woodcarver | Patrick Damiaens

Master Craftsman  
Beautiful and highly ornamented Liège-style furniture is still being carved today, thanks to the specialist skills of master Woodcarver Patrick Damiaens.

by Denzil Walton

Patrick Damiaens Ornamental woodcarver

 In the 17^th century the Belgian town of Liège became highly prosperous due to its coal mining, metal processing and glass refining industries. It evolved into a fashionable residence for princes, aristocracy and wealthy merchants who had money to spend on lavish, expensive carved furniture. 

The best craftsmen from the surrounding region were invited to work in Liège. The city soon became famous for its Liège-style furniture. It is characterized by beautifully and delicately carved ornaments, usually with a thickness of only 5 mm. 400 years on, Liège-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. 
Damiaens (46) is the only full-time ornamental wood carver in Flanders – the Dutch-speaking half of Belgium – a unique position of which he is immensely proud. “There are a few part-timers and hobbyists in Flanders, but no-one who earns his living doing what I do,” he says.

Carved panelling

What he does is certainly impressive. He 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 the most stunningly attractive cupboards, chests of drawers, wardrobes, door frames, staircases, stereo cabinets and decorative panels. “In fact, if you have the budget, we could make and decorate virtually any item of furniture,” Damiaens exclaims enthusiastically.

Liege style furniture

To make an item of Liège-style furniture is a highly complex process. The preparatory technical drawings can take a full month, as every item of furniture decorated by Damiaens is unique and 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 uniquely by Damiaens himself and drawn in the Liège-style. 

This is then presented to the customer, and after any necessary amendments are made, 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.

The next stage is the only time that Damiaens uses a machine (apart from one to sharpen his tools). He skilfully manipulates an electric milling machine to remove the bulk of the wood surrounding the design, after which the actual hand carving can begin.

Damiaens first uses a home-made scraper to remove the rough edges and excess wood missed by the milling machine, before bringing his vast collection of Swiss-made razor-sharp wood carving chisels into action. Once the carving is completed, the panel is returned to the cabinet-maker who treats it and incorporates it into the intended item of furniture.

Grinling Gibbons Style of Carving

 One reason why Damiaens likes his job is the variety of projects he is asked to undertake. As well as the larger items of furniture which take a year to complete, he carves and decorates a range of smaller items. At the end of a long working day he tries to find time to work on projects for his own house. He is currently building and decorating new kitchen cabinets.

Grinling Gibbons High-relief carving

 As to the future, Damiaens likes to set himself new carving challenges, his latest being to work in the style of Grinling Gibbons, one of his heroes. “Working mostly in lime wood, Gibbons is particularly well-known for his exquisite cascades of flowers, fruit and leaves, which were applied to paneling, furniture, walls and even chimneys,” explains Damiaens. “So detailed were his carvings that in certain light they look natural and lifelike, and have been likened to lacework. I think he is the finest wood carver of all time.”

By Denzil Walton

 More information : www.patrickdamiaens.info

MEMBER OF PEARLS OF CRAFTSMANSHIP