Carved Wall-Panelling by
Ornamental woodcarver Patrick Damiaens
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 wealthymerchants
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.
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| Carved Panelling |
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.
Damiaens 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 inFlanders,
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, doors, frames,
staircases, stereo cabinets and decorative panels.
We can make and decorate virtually any
item of furniture,” Damiaens exclaims enthusiastically.
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| Carved panelling for bathroom door |
To
make an item of Liege-style furniture is ahighly
complex process. The preparatory technical drawings
can take a full month and everyitem
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 inmost
cases is French oak.
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.
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| Restoration of Panelled rooms |
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
commissions.
Damiaens
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.”
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| Panelled rooms |
» Reproductions and personal creations of the 18th-century Liégeois
Furniture style.
» Artisan realisation and custom-made woodcarving and ornaments
for stairs, paneling, chimney-pieces, doors, family coats
of arms, ...
» Restoration and reconstruction of ornaments.
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