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The art of wood carving

01.06.2022 12:32

Satu Mare county Handicrafts

Wood crafting has been present since ancient times in the life of Romanians. Even today, many of us, in addition to modern kitchen utensils, have at least a wooden spoon.

Once upon a time, every peasant had a basic knowledge of wood crafting and how to use it in the household. However, thanks to skilled craftsmen, woodworking has been elevated to the rank of art. These craftsmen created wooden objects, not only useful but also beautiful. These objects have been and are used in the kitchen, in agricultural work, as furniture objects, in construction. Nothing was done by chance, and the craftsman made sure that the wood was raised to the rank of art, worthy of the sacrifice of its cutting. All objects were made entirely of wood and decorated with various traditional motifs, carrying a special symbolism. The symbols are best seen on the famous Maramures gates, and in the wooden churches, many are on UNESCO World Heritage List.

Although there are less and less of wood craftsmen, they are trying to carry on this craft, which is part of our history and culture. Ion Petric from Breb is one of them, who confesses that "nobody passed on the craft of wood carving to me, I liked to handle these things".

The master gladly explains how the ornamental motifs are executed, and the procedures used: the relief carving that is applied on the gate pillars, ‘fruntar’ (beam), the upper beam, ‘chițuși’; incision (deep wood carving), but also the fretwork used at the foot of the gate and the wings of the gate.

The wood carving made by a traditional craftsman is perhaps the most authentic way to express the feelings of a soul, not in a soulless stone but in wood, which is a living matter, until the time of cutting.

Măriuca Verdeş, a valiant lover and defender of ancestral traditions, says:

"In the past, the locals respected and valued wood. They searched for it long before cutting, looking for it to be straight, thick and healthy. When they wanted to cut it, they would go and talk to it, they would first ask it to let them cut it, and they would ask that in the place where they would take it to make a construction, to take care of the people in it and to last over time ”. Still Măriuca, with the thought of perpetuating the traditions from Maramureş, states: "Let's not be pretentious if we haven't planted anything to reap the fruits". So she founded the School of Ancient Roots, where every Thursday, from 18.00, in Călinești there are gatherings, in the homes of the hosts from Călinești, these being organized under the motto "Learn and carry on!".