Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sculpture, Room 111, The Gilbert Bayes Gallery

Gouge

ca. 1890-1900 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The techniques used in carving in wood and stone were fundamentally the same. First the sculptor carved the rough shape of the piece, a process known as ‘blocking out’. Then, he would work the surface with knives or chisels and abrasives. The figure was generally held horizontally at a workbench and attached to cylindrical shafts, so the sculptor could turn the piece as he carved. Small-scale pieces were generally carved at a workbench.

This tool is part of twenty-two wood-carving tools and forms a set selected by a wood-sculptor from four manufacturers - 1. S J ADDIS / CAST STEEL / ENGLAND, 2. HERRING BROTHERS, 3. C. HILL, and 4. WARD. The wood handle of the tools is of the 'Kensington type' in the turned form, except A. 3:6-1992 which is of an octagonal form. Some of the blades have a particular number which indicates the length of the blade and the cross section according to an old trade practice. The tools were probably those of Mrs. Bickerdike's late husband, J. M. (Micky) Bickerdike, who was taught by Gaudier-Brzesak, and was a sculptor himself.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Wood and steel
Brief description
Tool, wood and steel, gouge, for wood-carving, England, ca. 1890-1900
Dimensions
  • Length: 12.7cm (of blade)
  • Width: 1.9cm (of blade)
  • Length: 12.8cm (of blade)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Mrs Rhoda Bickerdike
Object history
Bequeathed by Mrs Rhoda Bickerdike in 1992.
Summary
The techniques used in carving in wood and stone were fundamentally the same. First the sculptor carved the rough shape of the piece, a process known as ‘blocking out’. Then, he would work the surface with knives or chisels and abrasives. The figure was generally held horizontally at a workbench and attached to cylindrical shafts, so the sculptor could turn the piece as he carved. Small-scale pieces were generally carved at a workbench.

This tool is part of twenty-two wood-carving tools and forms a set selected by a wood-sculptor from four manufacturers - 1. S J ADDIS / CAST STEEL / ENGLAND, 2. HERRING BROTHERS, 3. C. HILL, and 4. WARD. The wood handle of the tools is of the 'Kensington type' in the turned form, except A. 3:6-1992 which is of an octagonal form. Some of the blades have a particular number which indicates the length of the blade and the cross section according to an old trade practice. The tools were probably those of Mrs. Bickerdike's late husband, J. M. (Micky) Bickerdike, who was taught by Gaudier-Brzesak, and was a sculptor himself.
Collection
Accession number
A.3:7-1992

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Record createdApril 6, 2005
Record URL
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