I walk past these church corner stones at least twice every day; and I always throw them an admiring smile.
The reason being that I too was a stone-cutter in France for a while, until my bad back told me to quit.
Getting that perfect join between two cut stones is very satisfying. It is laborious (as is all stone-cutting) but not difficult. It is simply a matter of following certain criteria. A scribed line on a lump of stone is not difficult to follow and cut away. It is all a question of measuring, inscribing, chiseling, and planing correctly.
In order to get your stone to then sit correctly, the underneath must be slightly concave in order that only the extreme edges touch the stone beneath. After that it's the 'credit card test'; if you CAN'T insert a credit card between the two stones, you know you've done a good job.
People often say that 'craftsmanship' is a thing of the past. This is not true. What probably is a thing of the past is the money to pay for it. Craftsmanship costs money.
Below is a new building in The (famous) Lanes here in Brighton; someone suddenly discovered an area that could be further developed, so The Lanes have now slightly expanded.
The building below is brand new, and the flint and brick work is staggeringly good. It is one of those buildings that everyone stops to admire. The whole area will mellow beautifully in the years to come; everything has been done to the best traditional Sussex methods.
Yes, craftsmanship costs money, but it matter not a jot!
ReplyDeleteThat new build at the bottom is probably a skin of old skill, covering modern heat and sound favouring materials.... but it still requires the knowledge of materials and skill with the eye and tool to pull off "one of those buildings that everyone stops to admire."
All North Norfolk cottages that are new build or extensions of the old are required to be brick and flint faced.... and again keep character that everyone stops to admire.
And, as you know, down your way over here, there is that chateau being restored by using all the old skills....
skills and crafstmen and women who have laid down their tools there and decamped to Paris... because they are the only ones who have the knowledge to rebuild the upper part of Notre Dame.... and are passing those skills to another generation of "apprentices".
Old skills need to be kept alive... and therefore the artisans need to earn a really rewarding living from practicing their craft!!
So it costs boodle, lots of boodle.... but look at that new build above.... the new, rather industrial window and door blends beautifully with the old look!
It really is a lovely 'new' building. I did see a small terraced cottage recently that was equally good, but I didn't have my camera.
DeleteI have been watching recently YouTube videos on the huge stones in Peru and the Middle East which are placed so tightly together. It all seemed such a mystery but it seems stone masons know exactly how it's done. You've taken all the mystery out of it. Almost. Some of those stones are many thousands of tons.
ReplyDeleteThe new Sussex building is beautiful. Nice to know they are building them in the traditional methods
Yes, I've seen some of those walls and monuments, they are really amazing. And the all have to be perfect BEFORE they are winched into place.
DeleteOn Easter Island, the famous moai statues stand on stone plinths. In 2009, I photographed two of them in order to show the precision of the joints. Staggering really - as no metal tools were involved in the construction.
ReplyDeleteThey are wonderful statues aren't they, you are lucky to have seen them 'in the flesh'.
DeleteThere are 1043 moai statues on the island itself and yes - going there was certainly a dream come true.
DeleteThat is a beautiful newly constructed home. I suspect it is magnificent inside too. Do you have an address? I'd like to take a closer look and know more. Estate agents usually post pictures online.
ReplyDeleteIt's actually a commercial building, and isn't for sale. I can't remember what was inside.
DeleteI agree about the new house Cro. I am sure good Craftsmanship is alive nd well - certainly here one I have found a good craftsman I hold on to him (metaphorically speaking). Most Cathedrals, if not all, have workshops centred on keeping the building in good order and young people with the right skills and enthusiasm go through an apprenticeship and become adept at the skills needed. Occasionally I expect one or two of these young folk will go on to really blossom in the field. So hopefully not a dying craft.
ReplyDeleteIt's a long apprenticeship too; and it needs to be!
DeleteI took a couple of art classes in college, art for the artistically handicapped. The most important thing I learned, was to spend the time and concentrate on getting it right.
ReplyDeleteI had a wonderful Sculpture teacher. He was Hillary Stratton, and he'd worked for Eric Gill. He taught me for a few months, then I went on to a different college.
DeleteIn the Roman times, who pray tell was the credit card carrier? ;}
ReplyDeleteBarclius Bankum.
Deletetouche
DeleteThe new building has a "speckled" look to it that I don't like. It hurts my eyes quite a bit.
ReplyDeleteThose are the whole round flint stones; all exactly the same size and perfectly laid.
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