Primitive Chip Carving in the Pacific Islands
Chip Carving Instructions
Introduction to Chip Carving
CHIP-CARVING, characterized as it is by angular incisions in the surface decorated, occupies a very limited field in the realm of woodcarving. But with its limitations frankly recognized, it may appropriately be employed to enrich an otherwise plain surface. Because of its angularity, care must be exercised in applying it to curved surfaces or to surfaces having curved outlines, lest it become as degenerate as so many of our designs in cut glass have.
Decoration by means of incisions has been utilized by many primitive peoples, because it is applied to an otherwise finished surface. While handling his weapons and implements in times of leisure, the primitive man would naturally turn to scratches and incisions as a method of embellishment.
To appreciate what chipcarving may be at its best, one should see some of the ceremonial adz handles and paddles produced by the primitive men of the South Pacific islands. The decoration of these articles is characterized by an all-over pattern of small units, for the most part deeply cut. Often these units are as small as N" or 3/16". The chief element in their beauty is repetition, and to achieve such beauty one must exercise great patience.
As these articles were decorated for ceremonial occasion and not for daily use, no adaptations for convenience were necessary; some of the adz handles, for example, were hollow square tubes even as large as six inches on a side. Sharp corners and deep incisions were freely used.
When we remember that these primitive craftsmen used a bit of shell or a shark's tooth as a cutting tool, we can appreciate better their devotion to their art. And let us always remember that without that devotion no beautiful thing is ever created.
Fig. 1. shows some fullsize units of primitive design. Whatever motif was chosen it was used consistently, so that the whole decoration displayed unity. Lines of division were sometimes scratched and sometimes indicated by rows of very fine chips.
The photographs shown in the book should be studied closely by the beginner before undertaking to carve any of the articles drawn in this book. Close observation of these photographs will give a fair idea of how to execute a pattern which may seem obscure in the ink drawing.