Wood Carve
The Many Types of Wood you can use in Decorative Wood Carvings
Wood carving is not just all about shapes but also focuses more on the texture and color of the wood. Different wood colors and textures can make carvings look more realistic and artistic – which is the very reason why carvers always go out of their way to find the perfect wood for that masterpiece. So here are some of the most common woods used for decorative wood carvings today.
Butternut
Butternut wood is also known as the white walnut and has a very light weight compared to the other walnut variations. It contains a fine straight grain and is medium in size. When they are finished off with oil, the wood creates a beautiful light oak hue. The fine grains and the delicate color make it perfect for detailed furniture wood carvings. The wood is also perfect for veneering.
Basswood
Commonly known as the American Lime, Basswood is most well known for its delicate, creamy white color. The wood is a favorite among beginners because it is very easy to work with. It can also be glued and attached to other pieces of wood fairly well. Basswood possesses a straight and even grain. Because of the woods workability, this makes it the perfect type to use for decorative wood carvings with finer details. The wood is commonly used for toy making, carving and turning.
Walnut
Walnut is also termed as the Black Walnut or the American Walnut. This is an extremely hardy and tough wood that can be quite a challenge to work with. The wood’s grain is course, medium and straight. Walnut color can vary from deep red to creamy white. They are popularly used for furniture decorative wood carvings and turning.
Mahogany
Mahogany is an all time favorite among carvers. Mahogany is extremely popular for its deep red coloration which becomes richer with age. It is an extremely durable wood and is great for furniture wood carvings. Mahogany has a straight and even grain. But in spite of it being hardy, it is very easy to work with, even when carving fine detail. Mahogany is also used for artistic carving and turn work.
Sassafras
When it comes to its versatility, Sassafras is very similar to walnut, requiring both chisel and mallet for carving. Although its grain is straight, it has a very distinct pattern that can easily be distinguished from all the other types of wood. The wood can weigh heavier and has a creamy hue with darker grain lines. This wood is mostly used for furniture carvings and artistic decorative wood carvings.
Obeche
Obeche is famous for being very soft and has an almost undistinguishable grain pattern. Working with the wood requires very light hands because it can easily be dent and damaged with too much pressure. Knives need to be sharpened very well for better cutting strokes. The wood is commonly used for model making.
So in that next project on decorative wood carvings, pick your wood well. With the right wood type, you could be one step away to creating a masterpiece.
About the Author
At MontanaWoodCarving, you will discover an amazing selection of low priced and excellent quality decorative wood carvings.
How to wood carve a basic owl Part 1
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How to Carve Wood (Fine Woodworking Book) $9.43 Woodcarver Richard Butz teaches chapter by chapter whittling, chip carving, wildlife carving, relief carving, lettering, and architectural carving. The reader learns by doing, working through carefully illustrated and progressively more challenging exercises and projects. Butz provides scaled patterns for each project and ends each chapter with a gallery of additional projects using the techniques… |
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Tom Wolfe Carves Wood Spirits and Walking Sticks (Schiffer Book for Woodcarvers) $8.96 Legend has it that the forest of the world are inhabited by elusive creatures known as “Wood Spirits.” Tom Wolfe finds them everywhere and brings them to life in this delightful new instructional book. Using found wood such as driftwood, roots, and old beams from dilapidated barns, he leads the reader through the carving of wondrous, fanciful faces, that are both enchanting and beautiful. On a sma… |
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How To Carve A Wood Spirit: Complete Instruction On Carving Tools And Carving The Wood Spirit Beginning To End. $10.55 The How To Carve a Wood Spirit Book is a complete how to with step by step pictures. The how to carve a Wood Spirit book covers information on choosing the cotton wood bark, using the tools, and carving the wood spirit If you ever wanted the basics for caving here is your opportunity. Carving is fun and easy. With practice you can create your own creatures and Wood Spirits. Wood Spirits make … |
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1926 Print Michoacan Mexico Ancient Wood Carve Colonial Ritual Tribal Mask Tribe – Original Halftone Print $51.95 This is an original 1926 black and white halftone print of an ancient wood carved ritual tribal mask of the Colonial period. The original mask was native to Michoacan, Mexico…. |
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SE 8 – 12 Pc Professional Wood Carving Chisels $13.42 Size 8 in., Professional Quality… |
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SE 16 Pc Professional Wood Carving Chisels with Cloth Pouch $26.47 16Pc Professional Quality Wood Carving Chisel Set 11- 8.5 in. High Carbon Steel Wood Chisels with High Impact Plastic Handles 3- 6 x 1/2 in. Silicon Carbide Round, 3 Square, Rectangular Stone 6 in. Combination Sharpening Stone Wooden Stricker Heavy Duty Carrying Pouch Included… |
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Handcrafted ‘Close To You’ Mother and Child Wood Carving (Ghana) $40.99 There’s no greater love than between a mother and her child, and this statuette captures itThe wood carving depict the artist, Amu’s feelings towards his motherTwo-headed figurine is handmade in Ghana |
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Wood Carved Poppy Wall Panel (India) $42.99 Materials: Mango woodColors: Dark brownHandcrafted by artisans in India |
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Wood-carved Sitting Frog (Thailand) $15.99 Accessorize your home decor with this happy wooden frog sitting on a stump. Handcarved with exceptional attention to detail, this happy frog is sitting upright on a wooden stump with a smiley, care-free look on its face. |
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Mango Wood Carved Tear Drop Vase (Thailand) $48.99 Where style meets functionality, this vase is made from eco-friendly mango wood. Artisans in Thailand delicately handcraft this vase over a 60-day process. Each vase includes a 12-inch glass liner and can be used safely for fresh flowers. |
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Wooden Carved Wall Art Plaque (Set of 3) $249.99 The eye-catching design on this wall plaque fits any home decor. This wood wall art features carving designs on brown finish that gives any room a new meaning. |
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African Wood-carved Medium Flower Pot (Ghana) $29.99 Enhance your home decor with this unique and exotic contemporary potHandcarved from native sesse wood, pot is ideal for decorative use or as a holder for a small flowering plantGarden decor is designed for indoor use |
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Aged Coconut Wood Carved Urn (Indonesia) $289.99 Intricately hand-carved from a single coconut tree trunk, these urns take weeks to complete. Standing 40 inches tall, each urn is both size-able and unique, a truly original piece of art. Suitable for indoor use only. |
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Mango Wood Carved Leaf Tray (Thailand) $29.95 This terrific crimson and cream colored serving piece from the Casual Dining Collection is based on a native Thai leaf shape and fills myriad uses on the table or buffet. The tray is handcrafted of beautiful natural mango wood. |
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Wood Carved Two-tone Four Drawer Chest (China) $399.99 Beautiful carved oriental designs highlight this stunning four drawer chest. This wooden chest features a stunning honey wood stain with a clear lacquer protective finish. |
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Set of 2 Monkey Pod Wood Carved Masks (Thailand) $57.99 Made of the finest monkey pod wood in northern Thailand, our artisans spend nearly one month shaping, sanding, carving and coloring these stunning masks. The mask wall hangings will add a touch of world style to any decor. |
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Crest Chorusline Arm Chair $130.99 Enhance your home decor with this shield-back solid wood carved accent chairFurniture features a casual transitional-style frame with a fabric seat Chair has a warm chestnut stain finish |
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Carved Wood Two-drawer Tall Cabinet $207.99 Materials: HardwoodFinish: Stained wood Carved hardwood style featuring spiral coiled design |
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Mango Wood ‘Living Night’ Candleholder (Thailand) $23.49 Arising from deep in the center, a spiral moves outward to envelop this stunning candleholder. Saifon crafts the piece from Thai mango wood, carving and painting the black candleholder by hand. |
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‘Please Don’t Go’ Wood Statuette (Indonesia) $60.99 Romantic sculpture makes a perfect gift for that special someoneEnliven your home or office with this outstanding suar wood carving Artisan Nyoman Karsa sculpts a thoughtful portrait of a lover’s anguish |
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Suar Wood Happy Buddha Statue (Indonesia) $91.99 Add an Eastern spirit of joy and prosperity throughout your home with the charm of this decorative traveling Hotei Buddha wood carving. Dancing on his bag of money this Buddha statue brings contentment and plenitude. |
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Enchanted Lady Waste Basket (China) $61.99 Great addition to any office decorWaste basket is handcrafted by talented artisans in the Fujian province of China, known for its wood carving and lacquer wearFashioned from Philippine elm and mahogany wood |
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Nova Lighting ‘Pimento’ Cocktail Table $299.99 Dark wood carved into the shape of pimento olives form the base of this unique cocktail table from Nova Lighting. This table is finished with a beveled glass top with a rootbeer-brushed aluminum finish. |
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Rollins 24-inch Swivel Counter Stool $254.99 One look at this stool and you know that it will provide many years of comfort. The wood carved back and dark toast leather seat brings out the richness of this Rollins stool. |
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Suar Wood Happy Buddha Statue (Indonesia) $91.99 Add an Eastern spirit of joy and prosperity throughout your home with the charm of this decorative traveling Hotei Buddha wood carving. Dancing on his bag of money this Buddha statue brings contentment and plenitude. |
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Rollins 30-inch Swivel Bar Stool $239.99 One look at this stool and you know that it will provide many years of comfort. The wood carved back and dark toast leather seat brings out the richness of this Rollins stool. |
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Hand-carved Wooden Lion Book Ends (Ghana) $42.49 Accentuate your office or library decor with this authentic wood-carved lion-shaped book ends. This is a new and original carving by Agingo Crafters of Ghana, West Africa. |
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Walnut Hollow 8×8-inch Basswood Canvas $10.79 Create a unique piece of art on this basswood canvas. This piece of wood canvas from Walnut Hollow is ideal for fine art, encaustic art collage, woodburning, wood carving, stamping, cover with paper, fabric, paint, alcohol inks and much more. |
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Wood ‘Prayer’ Statuette (Indonesia) $46.49 Update your home decor with an extraordinary Balinese ‘Prayer’ wood carvingDecorative accessory depicts a figure reaching skyward in an attitude of prayerAbstract line distinguishes a masterful sculpture |
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Wood ‘Male Mallard’ Statuette (Indonesia) $65.99 Ancestor of all domestic ducks, the mallard comes to life in this exquisite wood carvingDecorative accessory boasts solid wood constructionHandmade sculpture is sure to complement any home decor |
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‘Holy Family on a Donkey’ Sculpture (Bethlehem) $31.49 Hand-carved nativity was made in Bethlehem from olive woodCarving depicts Mary holding Baby Jesus while sitting on a donkey with Joseph standing next to themSculpture’s artisans are paid a fair wage for their beautiful work |
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Holy Family Christmas Sculpture (Bethlehem) $34.49 Hand-carved nativity was made in Bethlehem from olive woodCarving depicts Mary holding Baby Jesus with Joseph standing next to themSculpture’s artisans in the West Bank are paid a fair wage for their beautiful work |
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Walnut Hollow 9×12-inch Basswood Canvas $15.98 Create a unique piece of art on this basswood canvas. This piece of wood canvas from Walnut Hollow is ideal for fine art, encaustic art collage, woodburning, wood carving, stamping, cover with paper, fabric, paint, alcohol inks and much more. |
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Wood Carving $16.86 Sound, technical advice is the first order of business in this collection of several excellent articles and 24 projects from Woodcarving magazine. Far from being just a selection of patterns, this guide reviews the fundamentals of… |
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Wood Carving Basics $18.57 Carving is an area of woodworking that has wide appeal and can start as simply as whittling figures with a pocket knife. Since the cost of entry is so low, many people are willing to give it a try. But some people are put off by the conflicting informa… |
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The Wood Carving Bible (Spiral) $11.57 Description not available. |
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Daniel’s Duck $3.95 A young boy is hurt when others laugh at his wood carving. |
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Oaxacan Woodcarving $15.64 Presents a dazzling array of magical wood carvings created by the famed artisans of Oaxaca. |
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WWJD II: The Woodcarver (DVD) $8.41 A troubled teen (Dakota Daulby) and a hermetic wood-carver (John Ratzenberger) help each other rediscover their spirituality as they work together to repair the damage caused by an act of vandalism. |