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Artistic handicraft

What they do:

Wood sculptors create works of art designed to enhance public or private spaces — including statues, reliefs, fountains, altars, and parts of period furniture. They work either from their own artistic ideas or based on predefined sketches and models, and may also collaborate in the restoration of historical sculptures. In addition to various types of wood, they also use other materials such as bronze, stone, and textiles. Their main tools include chisels, hammers, and carving instruments. Finished pieces are treated on the surface — stained, painted, varnished, or gilded — to achieve the desired artistic effect. Wood sculptors often work on individual commissions, producing unique, custom-made works.

Decorative sculptors perform similar activities, creating ornamental bas-reliefs, inscriptions, coats of arms, signs, and frames in wood or other materials such as plaster, artificial stone, or metal. These decorative works are often found in both private spaces and sacred buildings such as churches.

Woodcarvers usually produce smaller figures, reliefs, and other decorative objects from various types of wood, serving as artistic or religious ornaments. Unlike wood sculptors, they generally work from predefined models rather than personal artistic designs. They transfer the outlines from the drawing or model onto the wood, shape it using specific tools — especially carving knives — and finally apply a protective surface finish. Their work may also include the refinement of figures pre-shaped by machines.

Gilders and decorative painters also belong to the field of handicraft. They gild, silver, patinate, and paint artistic and decorative objects such as lamps, sculptures, mirror and picture frames, and many other items made of wood, iron, bronze, plaster, and other materials. Restoration work is also an important part of their profession. Their process involves priming, filling, sanding, painting, decorating, and varnishing surfaces. This artistic craft requires knowledge of colour theory and art history, particularly of styles and lettering.

Key skills:

  • Artistic creation and manual craftsmanship
  • Wood sculpture, carving, and decorative work
  • Gilding, painting, and surface finishing
  • Restoration of artistic and decorative objects
  • Knowledge of materials, tools, and techniques
  • Precision, creativity, and aesthetic awareness
  • Understanding of colour theory and art history