The Master Carvers Association boasts a membership of over 40, about half being individual carvers and the rest employing a number of apprentices and trained crafts people.
More about the history of the MCA will be found using the link above
Between them, our members possess a huge number of skills, including: figure and heraldic carving; picture frame carving and gilding; letter cutting in both wood and stone; architectural wood and stone carving along with ecclesiastical carving; modelling for casting in many materials and mould making; cabinet making and furniture restoration - thus completely demolishing the commonly held belief that 'all the old skills have disappeared'.
Clicking on the 'Specialities' link at the top of the page will illustrate the variety of our skills further.
Members keep in touch through occasional news bulletins, meetings and every modern method of communication and quite often form teams of carvers to undertake large or prestigious jobs where a number of skilled carvers are required.
One such team, put together by the Association, worked on the fine restoration of the Carlton House Trophies at Windsor Castle, damaged in the fire.
This team not only had to patch and re-gild carvings that had been damaged, but in some cases completely recreate missing trophies from photographs.
More about the history of the MCA will be found using the link at the top of the page or here.
Some of our members have branched out overseas and have been involved in carving for new buildings in the Middle East, Japan, Ireland and the USA. In fact 3 of our members now reside in the USA.
Owing to the changing nature of woodcarving today, the Association recently brought in the new class of Associate Membership to enable competent professional carvers who would are unsuccessful in meeting the criterion for full membership - perhaps in knowledge of classical styles or a tuning of technique - to be included within the Association.
If you are a professional wood or stonecarver, you can apply for membership of the MCA.
Click on the 'Membership' link at the top of the page or here to find out more and how to apply.
