Puunveiston

Puunveiston, known in English as wood carving, is the art and craft of shaping timber into figures, reliefs, or functional objects by removing material with cutting tools. It encompasses a wide range of practices from small-scale whittling to architectural reliefs and sculpture.

Historically, wood carving appears in many cultures, from ancient reliefs to Nordic folk art. In Finland and other parts of Northern Europe, traditional puunveisto includes church carvings, wooden sculptures, and decorative motifs in everyday objects, reflecting regional flora, mythology, and timber culture.

Techniques include subtractive working with gouges, chisels, and knives; relief carving and chip carving; as well as modern power-carving using rotary tools. Carvers plan a design, transfer a pattern to wood, remove waste wood, refine forms, and incorporate texture.

Wood choice affects workability and durability. Softwoods such as pine are common for beginners, while hardwoods like oak, maple, and ash are favored for detail and longevity. Grain orientation, moisture content, and resin can influence cutting and finishing.

Tools include gouges of various sweeps, straight chisels, knives, mallets, rasps, plus electric tools. Finishing typically involves sanding, sealing, and applying oil, wax, or varnish to protect and enhance the wood.

Puunveisto continues as both a traditional craft and contemporary art form, practiced by individuals and communities worldwide. It intersects with carpentry, sculpture, and design, and faces ongoing interest in sustainable sourcing and conservation.