THE TEFAF | THE EUROPEAN FINE ART FAIR | ANTIQUE FAIR IN MAASTRICHT

Patrick Damiaens
Ornamental Woodcarver

The Visit of
The European Fine Art Fair in Maastricht

The TEFAF

Visiting Museums and Castles is Probably the main source of inspiration for the Ornamental Woodcarver.
These are places where the craftsman gets his ideas, he is looking for new challenges and always new unexpected surprises, and even after 25 years still feels something new to learn.

Exploring and studying ,looking at problems and how your colleagues 300 years ago solved them, their knowledge of  tasteful proportions used in the interior decoration and their knowledge of carving techniques.

In the 25 years that I am carving ornaments, you know by now where , and in which museum or castle, what kind of ornament, decoration style, character, quality is available . Or in which castle there is possible change to take pictures or .... when it is required too take notes or drawings .

On an antique fair you just ask the exhibitor, he will usually allow you to take pictures, because he doesn’t know you and maybe, just maybe  you are a potential customer for him.

The European Fine Art Fair , The TEFAF

In this blog item we visit the TEFAF in Maastricht, over the years TEFAF has come to be recognized as the world's leading art and antiques fair. I should feeling really lucky that I only live 20 minutes from Maastricht and The TEFAF .

MALLETT From London

In 2012 TEFAF celebrated its 25th anniversary. Over the years TEFAF has come to be recognized as the world's leading art and antiques fair. As a visitor to TEFAF you will experience an event that offers an unsurpassed choice of the very best in fine art.

The Fair gives you a unique chance to view and to buy paintings from gold grounds to Anish Kapoor as well as objects reflecting 7,000 years of excellence in the decorative arts. A distinctive feature of TEFAF is its elegantly displayed genuine masterpieces offered by more than 260 of the world's most prestigious art and antiques dealers from 18 countries.

TEFAF has led the way in establishing proper vetting procedures, and they are still considered the most exacting. Twenty-nine vetting committees, made up of over 170 international experts in every field of art represented at the Fair, verify each and every object for quality, authenticity and condition, so visitors can always buy with confidence.

For directors and curators of major museums, as well as private collectors from around the world, a visit to TEFAF offers an opportunity to acquire some of the finest works still in private hands

Rembrandt

It is for the ornamental Woodcarver of great importance to have a lot of documentation, drawings and pictures , this source of inspiration can be consulted later by a possible restoration or reconstruction of ornaments.

In the creation and drawing of new ornaments and compositions  a comprehensive library of books and pictures is really necessary, this information gives the ornamental Woodcarver a greater freedom in drawing and design. 
A lot of  information (pictures) also contributes to the ornamental carver  a better understanding  of  the forms and characters that can be consult. And this together with a large amount of plaster casts and wooden examples you're already well on your way.

Here are some beautiful really beautiful ornaments, mirrors, frames , panelling that I have photographed the latest editions of the TEFAF .
Maybe also for you a source of inspiration.

WEBSITE

 Patrick Damiaens is member of

Pearls of Craftsmanship 

WEBSITE

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 LIEGE-STYLE ORNAMENT | LIEGE STYLE FURNITURE | CUSTOM-MADE WOODCARVING

The different stages for creating an Liege Style ornament in wood.

  

1 - The first job consists of making a rough sketch using a red sketching pencil. The pattern may come from an original model (on condition that any imperfections in it have been removed) or be a personal creation, produced in the same spirit as in the 18th century.

2 - The rough sketch is then completely rubbed out. The exact shape however, which is thickened with a pencil, is still preserved. Subsequent alterations remain possible at this stage. This phase is very important (because a poor design automatically means a poor end result).

3 - The correct design is redrawn on tracing paper and at the same time fixed onto the wood by means of drawing pins. The design is then transferred onto the wood using tracing paper and a scriber.The pattern can now be found on the panel.

4 - The ornamentist roughly removes the wood surrounding the design by means of a router, thus creating a surface suited for carving.

5 - He removes any rough edges and excess wood from the surface using a home-made scraper.

6 - The actual carving can now take place. This phase is called modeling. Many years of study and in-depth experience are of crucial importance during this phase.

7 - This is the phase where we begin to notice the importance of appropriately handling the router. During the modeling stages the original drawing disappears. The pattern on the panel is later redrawn by means of a marker.

 8 - The design is traced correctly. At this stage wood chisels are used for drawing purposes. One should be careful not to carve into the surface, leaving the possibility to make some minor alterations when necessary.

9 - Excess wood surrounding the design is removed.

10 - The surface is now properly finished. Any rough edges and excess wood are removed with the scraper.

11 - The extension of the ogee, positioned by the cabinetmaker, is done. It is essential that this be identical to the part fixed by machine.

12 - This is the most important phase of the pattern. Ornaments are measured to perfection. A proper understanding of the depth and relief of the ornament and the ability to estimate the maximum depth of the ornament are essential, as are routine and experience in handling the material. The use of plaster models and visual material can be very useful during this stage.

13 - The panel is finished and can now be returned to the cabinetmaker in order for it to be treated and incorporated into the intended piece of furniture.

More information about wood carvings and ornaments, Liège and Aachen Style Furniture.
My Website:www.patrickdamiaens.info

www.patrickdamiaens.be