The Green Man

So this is my first blog post, and I thought I would share a recent project I worked on for an unusual garden gate as the carver at Jack Badger Ltd... 

The Brief

When a brief came through for a garden gate with a pierced carving, I knew I could have a lot of fun with it. People seem more willing and open to unusual ideas for garden furniture. Perhaps because it doesn't need to fit in with their existing house decor.

A pierced carving allows a view through a solid door (or gate in this case) whilst maintaining privacy. This particular pierced carving (or 'peep hole' as they are often referred too...which I have a problem with saying for some reason) was on the front of the gate and a small hatch would cover it on the back. This way the 'guard' (back in the day) can open the hatch to see who wants to enter without exposing themselves. It also has the added benefit that no one from the outside can look in easily.

My concepts for the carving were presented to the client (some simple - some more complex) but I was chuffed that this was the preferred design. 

Don't have nightmares.

This was the chance to do something pretty special. The idea is that the face would have pierced eyes for the owner to peek through and hopefully scare away anyone loitering on the other side. 

The Process

Once the design and been agreed with the client I could begin thinking about how I was going to achieve it. 

I produced a sample carving of the design in order to test the size and shape of the eyes and face. A sample also serves to make sure the levels and depths that you are carving create the right amount of relief.  This is the opportunity to make any changes before cutting into the real job. I also use a sample to work out the selection of chisels I will need, and mark them for the job, all in the name of efficiency!

Sample carving.

The carving was going to land on the middle board of the gate and had to be placed at the correct height for looking through. This proved tricky as I didn't know how tall the client was, let alone where his eyes were in relation to his height. It didn't feel like something I could easily ask for. What I really needed was accurate survey data, not only of the opening where the gate was to be fitted, but also of the man who wanted to look through it. Unfortunately all I had were eye witness accounts and an assurance that his eyes were in a normal location, at about half way up his head. I made a best guess using this information and picked a spot to start carving.

Emerging from the grain...and looking nonplused. 

Beady eyes. I drilled two holes big enough to get a jigsaw blade 
through so that I could roughly cut out the eye holes. 

Finished with chisels.

The Green Man

This design, if you hadn't already worked out, is based on the 'Green Man'. Its an ancient image found all over the world, and alludes to the union between man and the green/vegetable world. It has links to paganism but is so often found in peering down from cathedral ceilings or church pews. It has different interpritations, and probably meant different things to different people. From pagan fertility, to the cycle of life, death and rebirth. In this case I wanted it to be an interesting thing to look at...and perhaps scare a few of the local kiddiewinks. I have since leant that this type of Green Man carving, where the leaves protrude from the eyes as well as the mouth, is know as a 'bloodsucker' green man!

Finishing

The middle board, once carved was fitted to the gate and tongue and grooved to the other front boards. The gate is ready for colouring, a process of staining the wood to give a aged feel. This a closely guarded secret that Jack Badger Ltd prides itself on, so thats all I will be saying...

The gate coloured and scrubbed. The deep colour quickly fades
as the boards dry.

Fitting

By all accounts the fitting went well, and the client was very happy with his new gate.  What a pleasure it was to work on this project and have a client willing to try something a bit different! Its the talk of his village apparently! Hopefully it will be for many years to come...

Front of the gate in its forever home.

Back of the gate.

Extra detail - A small vine leaf carving I added to the back of the gate 
to embellish the hatch and give the client something to admire
 whilst in the privacy of his garden.