Chisel Collection

Polkanuggo Quarry, Stithians, Cornwall. September 1902
A view of the quarry face showing workers sitting on a granite block weighing an estimated 2, 738 tons. It was claimed to be the largest single block ever quarried

Quarry in Mabe or Constantine, Cornwall. 1903-1904
A view of the quarry face showing two workers with sledge hammers standing by a granite block that is being dressed. Part of the Freeman & Sons, Penryn Collection. Photographer: Unknown

Freeman & Sons dressing floor, probably Penryn, Cornwall. 1903-1904
Classical granite columns on the dressing floor of Freeman & Sons works. The man pictured is either Bernard Freeman or his brother. Part of the Freeman & Sons, Penryn Collection. Photographer: Unknown

Transporting granite blocks for King Alfreds statue to Penryn Station, Penryn, Cornwall. 1901
Fowler traction engines 7974 and 9016 are pictured hauling blocks of granite from one of the Mabe quarries to Penryn Station, for onward transportation by train to Winchester, Hampshire

Wheelwright makinbg wooden wheels, Blists Hill, Ironbridge
A skilled wheelwright works on a wooden cart wheel in his workshop at Blists Hill Working Museum, Ironbridge, Shropshire. First published The Independent newspaper Date: 1989

Polkanuggo Quarry, Stithians, Cornwall. 1903-1904
A general view of Polkanuggo Quarry with steam traction engine BETA No 483 and workers posing for the camera. The traction engine was made around June 1885 by John Fowler of Leeds

Mormons cutting stone for their temple, Utah
Quarrying stone for the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Splitting Slates
A workman uses a hammer and chisel to split slates in the biggest slate quarry in the world at Blaenau Ffestiniog, Merionethshire, Wales

House carpenter planing a board on a bench. His workshop contains carpentry tools such as saws, hammer, chisel, as well as finished products such as a door, rafters, ladder, etc

Apprentice carpenter
Young carpenters apprentice planing a block of wood, 1800s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Blacksmith at work in his forge
An elderly blacksmith hammering a horseshoe on his anvil. The owner of the horse awaiting a new set of shoes looks in at the window, while the blacksmiths cat scratches an ear on the work bench

Grinling Gibbons / Evelyn
GRINLING GIBBONS English woodcarver and sculptor, with John Evelyn at the door, about to discover him

TOOL ADVERTISEMENT, 1895. From the Montgomery Ward & Co. catalogue of 1895

Tresahor Quarry, Constantine, Cornwall. 1903-1904
A general view of the quarry with the crane used for moving the granite blocks. Part of the Freeman & Sons, Penryn Collection. Photographer: Unknown

Polkanuggo Quarry, Stithians, Cornwall. Around 1900
A view of the quarry face showing workers holding the tools of their trade while dressing stones. Blocks of granite are ready to be moved using the cranes based at the edge of the quarry

Childhood of Christ, c1620. Artist: Gerrit van Honthorst
Childhood of Christ, c1620. Detail. Found in the collection of The Hermitage, St Petersburg

ALLEGORY OF MERCURY, 1496. Personification of Mercury, the planet of science and the arts. Woodcut from Nicolas Le Rouges Le grand kalendrier des bergieres, Troyes, 1496

Wheelwright (engraving)
2802012 Wheelwright (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Wheelwright. Illustration for An Illustrated Vocabulary For The Use Of The Deaf And Dumb (SPCK)

Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, c. 1910 (b / w photo)
XJF365394 Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, c.1910 (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Apprentice splitting slate, Delabole Quarry, Cornwall
An apprentice splitting a slate at the Delabole Quarry in North Cornwall. Slate has been mined in the area since the middle ages

Sculpture, from a series of four illustrating the Fine Arts, from a design by Giuseppe Zocchi (1711-67)
KAB93227 Sculpture, from a series of four illustrating the Fine Arts, from a design by Giuseppe Zocchi (1711-67) c.1780 (pietra dura, bronze); Museo Opificio delle Pietre Dure, Florence

Stone cutter with mallet and chisel model a bevel stone, behind him another cut a stone with the saw - Stone mason
FLO4577762 Stone cutter with mallet and chisel model a bevel stone, behind him another cut a stone with the saw - Stone mason carving a stone with mallet and chisel on a bevel

Stonemasons, wearing heavy leather safety aprons, sawing stone blocks and shaping with mallet and chisel
536352 Stonemasons, wearing heavy leather safety aprons, sawing stone blocks and shaping with mallet and chisel.; (add.info.: Stonemasons, wearing heavy leather safety aprons)

The Vintager, c.1770 (engraving)
CUL4932237 The Vintager, c.1770 (engraving); Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid, Spain; (add.info.: SALVADOR CARMONA, Juan Antonio (1740-1805). "The Vintager." Vignette c

House carpenter planing a board on a bench, in his workshop, 1810 (engraving)
FLO4577745 House carpenter planing a board on a bench, in his workshop, 1810 (engraving); (add.info.: House carpenter planing a board on a bench, in his workshop, many tools, saw, hammer)

Caulking, 1850
3359219 Caulking, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the Caulking of a ship by turning in the edges of the riveted plates with a chisel. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

BRUTUS, Lucius Junius (6th century BC) First Consul of the Roman Republic (engraving)
CUL4932509 BRUTUS, Lucius Junius (6th century BC) First Consul of the Roman Republic (engraving); Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid

Masonic Symbolism, 1850
3478438 Masonic Symbolism, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting Masonic Symbolism: Sun and Moon (God's power, eternity, omnipresence and benevolence)

Portrait of Antonie van den Bosch, 1802. Creator: Gabriël van Rooijen
Portrait of Antonie van den Bosch, 1802

The Slijpsteenmarkt and Het Zeerecht, Amsterdam, 1825-1874. Creator: Unknown
The Slijpsteenmarkt and Het Zeerecht, Amsterdam, 1825-1874. The Slijpsteenmarkt ((Whetstone Market) and Het Zeerecht (Martime Law building)

Mason Smoking with Companions in a Tavern, c.1675. Creator: David Teniers II
Mason Smoking with Companions in a Tavern, c.1675

'"A Vicar his own Mason" --The Rev. F.W. Ragg helping in the Restoration of his Church at Marsworth, Tring, 1890. From "The Graphic

Two sculptors, between 1735 and 1745. Creator: Unknown
Two sculptors, between 1735 and 1745

Columbus Memorial Construction, 1912. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Columbus Memorial Construction, 1912
Columbus Memorial Construction, 1912. [Carving of the world globe section of the Columbus Fountain, also known as the Columbus Memorial

Paul Wayland Bartlett - Sculptor, 1916. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Paul Wayland Bartlett - Sculptor, 1916
Paul Wayland Bartlett - Sculptor, 1916. At work on the pediment for the US House of Representatives at the US Capitol

Glorification of Louis XVI, "father of the French and king of a free people", 1791. Creator: Dubois
Glorification of Louis XVI, "father of the French and king of a free people", 1791

Chisel, c. 1938. Creator: George C. Brown
Chisel, c. 1938

Medal Engraving, from Encyclopédie, 1762/77. Creator: A. J. Defehrt
Medal Engraving, from Encyclopedie, 1762/77

Wood Engraving, Tools, from Encyclopédie, 1762/77. Creator: A. J. Defehrt
Wood Engraving, Tools, from Encyclopedie, 1762/77

Wood Engraving, Tools, from Encyclopédie, 1762/77. Creator: A. J. Defehrt
Wood Engraving, Tools, from Encyclopedie, 1762/77

Wood Engraving, Tools, from Encyclopédie, 1762/77. Creator: A. J. Defehrt
Wood Engraving, Tools, from Encyclopedie, 1762/77

Wood Engraving, Tools, from Encyclopédie, 1762/77. Creator: A. J. Defehrt
Wood Engraving, Tools, from Encyclopedie, 1762/77

Copperplate Engraving, from Encyclopédie, 1762/77. Creator: A. J. Defehrt
Copperplate Engraving, from Encyclopedie, 1762/77

Seal Engraving, from Encyclopédie, 1762/77. Creator: A. J. Defehrt
Seal Engraving, from Encyclopedie, 1762/77

Majestic Sculpture - Snow Mountain
Vertigo Artography

Masonic symbols and their meanings (litho)
6013740 Masonic symbols and their meanings (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Masonic symbols and their meanings)

Maen Quarry, Constantine, Cornwall. 1903-1904
A general view of the quarry with the crane used for moving the granite blocks. A number men can be seen with cut blocks at the foot of the quarry face. Part of the Freeman & Sons, Penryn Collection

Bosahan Quarry, Constantine, Cornwall. 1903-1904
General view of the quarry with men standing by cut granite blocks and the crane used for moving the blocks. Two men are standing either side of a horse and cart

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"Unearthing History: The Timeless Art of the Chisel" Step back in time to Polkanuggo Quarry, Stithians, Cornwall. In 1903-1904, skilled craftsmen wielded their chisels with precision, carving out magnificent stone masterpieces that still stand today. Travel further back to September 1902 at the same quarry, where the rhythmic sound of chisels echoed through the air as dedicated workers shaped and sculpted raw rock into architectural wonders. Witness a house carpenter meticulously planing a board on a sturdy bench. With each stroke of his trusty chisel, he transforms rough timber into smooth perfection - a testament to his craftsmanship. Across the Atlantic in Utah, Mormons diligently cut stone for their temple using nothing but their unwavering faith and well-worn chisels. Their dedication shines through every intricately carved detail. An apprentice carpenter learns from seasoned masters as he wields his own chisel for the first time. Guided by experienced hands, he hones his skills and embarks on an artistic journey that will shape his future. In a fiery forge, sparks fly as a blacksmith skillfully works with molten metal. His trusted chisel becomes an extension of himself as he shapes iron into useful tools and ornate creations alike. Enter the world of Grinling Gibbons and Evelyn - renowned woodcarvers who brought life to intricate designs with their deft touch of the chisel. Their breathtaking creations continue to awe audiences centuries later. From splitting slates in Cornwall's Tresahor Quarry to crafting monumental structures in Mabe or Constantine quarries - these rugged landscapes witnessed countless hours spent wielding powerful yet delicate tools like the humble chisel. Even in 1895 America, tool advertisements showcased this indispensable instrument's versatility and durability. The Montgomery Ward & Co. 's catalogue proudly displayed its range of quality chisels, catering to the needs of skilled craftsmen across the nation.