| Project by Dennis Zongker | posted 107 days ago | 727 views | 3 times favorited | 42 comments | ![]() |
I received a call from Shannon Flowers, the editor of Wood Carving Illustrated, asking if I would be interested in doing an artical on relief carving on an old piece of furniture? I agreed and decided to take an old rocking chair and add carving to the back to help bring it back to life. So at that point I went looking for just the right piece of furniture. I went shopping around at different flee markets and old antique stores. One thing to keep in mind is that most antique stores do not have true antique furniture. The reason I say that is because furniture does not become an antique until it is 100 years old. This is good because personally, I wouldn’t want to carve into, or add cavings to a true antique, or a valuable piece of furniture, because it will take away the value of a piece.
There are 14 steps in the magazine that shows you step by step instructions on how to carve on the back of an old rocking chair. The pictures that I am showing here are some that were not published in the article. I hope you find a few ideas for your carving project.
You can find the full artical that is featured this month in Wood Carving Illustrated/Fall 2008 Issue #44. “Carving a New Life for Old Furniture” Traditional relief carving adds value to flea market finds.
www.woodcarvingillustrated.com
Close up of the nine point shell without any finishing
Close up of the nine point shell ” Finished”
“BEFORE” 
“AFTER”
-- Dennis Zongker
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42 comments so far
lew
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1752 posts in 292 days
posted 107 days ago
Congratulation!
Lew
Betsy
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1886 posts in 433 days
posted 107 days ago
Congrats Dennis. That’s pretty cool. You’ve got talent! I’ll have to see if I can get a copy of the magazine.
-- Betsy - GO BUCKS!
daltxguy
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268 posts in 451 days
posted 107 days ago
Well done! and what a difference it makes to an ‘older’ piece of furniture. ( I remember in Turkey they told me that an item doesn’t become an antique until it is more than 400 years old!)
No reason why you couldn’t do this to a future antique as well.
I’m quite interested in chip carving – a skill I have not yet had much chance to discover yet.
-- Steve, New Zealand, www.steveracz.com
griff
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479 posts in 299 days
posted 107 days ago
Dennis,
Congratulation on the artical. You did a very good job on the chair. the carving adds to its beauty.
-- Mike, Bruce Mississippi = Jack of many trades master of none
PurpLev
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355 posts in 185 days
posted 107 days ago
that is awesome! congratulations!
-- My Drinking Club has a Woodworking Problem...
DocK16
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450 posts in 624 days
posted 107 days ago
Congrats Dennis on getting printed and the beautiful touch to a classic old chairl
-- DocK, WV
savannah505
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171 posts in 123 days
posted 107 days ago
Excellent as always, you make it look easy.
-- Dan Wiggins
jeanmarc
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1753 posts in 253 days
posted 107 days ago
the carving adds to its beauty.Congratulation!
-- jeanmarc manosque france
SteveKorz
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1419 posts in 251 days
posted 107 days ago
Congrats Dennis, I always follow your posts with great interest….
-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
Jason
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39 posts in 160 days
posted 107 days ago
Pretty awesome looking carving. Really brings the chair to life, like you say.
-- Jason
Douglas Bordner
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2732 posts in 601 days
posted 107 days ago
Definitely a future antique now. Congrats on getting published as well. That’s quite an accomplishment.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Bigbuck
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1050 posts in 200 days
posted 107 days ago
Very nice, you really brought that chair back from the dead.
-- Glenn, New Mexico
woodnot
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51 posts in 151 days
posted 107 days ago
I like the pattern—fine quality work. Thanks for sharing
-- NW wood worker
Arianna
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113 posts in 128 days
posted 107 days ago
Dennis very nicely done…. Can’t wait to buy the magazine to see the full article….
-- Arianna
MsDebbieP
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12282 posts in 697 days
posted 107 days ago
Congrats! and the chair is wonderful.
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
rikkor
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8567 posts in 411 days
posted 107 days ago
Wow, that most certainly dresses up that chair. That is really fine carving.
-- Maplewood, MN
trifern
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4969 posts in 304 days
posted 106 days ago
Congratulations Dennis. That is a true honor and you should be proud. Thanks for sharing.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
Dick, & Barb Cain
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5384 posts in 836 days
posted 106 days ago
A beautiful creation, & well done.
I’ll be looking forward to the fall issue.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Lee A. Jesberger
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2898 posts in 516 days
posted 106 days ago
Hi Dennis, or should I say Mr. Dennis;
This is a feat to be very proud of for sure.
First off what you did to that chair is extraordinary!
The carving is beautiful, and extremely well done.
But to be asked to write something for a magazine is an honor.
Way to go!
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
Bob #2
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2081 posts in 558 days
posted 106 days ago
I like this style!
Well done Dennis and getting published as Lee says is an honour in itself.
Bob
-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner
John Gray
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883 posts in 422 days
posted 106 days ago
SUPER WOW!!!!
-- Only the Shadow knows....................
Toolz
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227 posts in 279 days
posted 106 days ago
Dennis, I got my copy in the mail yesterday and really admired your work. Way to go!
-- Growing older but not up!
Dennis Zongker
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291 posts in 129 days
posted 106 days ago
Thank you very much everyone, for your kind words . It was a very injoyable project.
-- Dennis Zongker
Arianna
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113 posts in 128 days
posted 106 days ago
Dennis I noticed the grain of the wood is beauitful…..what kind of wood is the chair made out of?
-- Arianna
Dennis Zongker
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291 posts in 129 days
posted 106 days ago
I’ll be getting 50 copies of the magizine. If anybody wants one let me know here on this page. I’ll ship one out to you, free of charge. If I send you one could you do me a favor and right a email to the editor Shannon Flowers at Shannon@FoxChapelPublishing.com To tell her something positive about the artical. It was her idea. Iv’e been working with her for about a year now. She is a great to work with, she’s a very hard working lady. Thank you very much.
-- Dennis Zongker
Arianna
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113 posts in 128 days
posted 106 days ago
Dennis I would love to have a copy only if you sign it for me….. and I will write to Shannon Flowers because it is a great article…. makes me want to try carving…. I have a copy now but I would love to have one signed from you. thanks this would be awesome!
-- Arianna
thetimberkid
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1684 posts in 240 days
posted 106 days ago
Great job and congratulations!
Thanks for the post
Callum
-- Look great, get your TTK merchandise now! http://www.printfection.com/thetimberkid/ Check out my site http://thetimberkid.blogspot.com/
daltxguy
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268 posts in 451 days
posted 105 days ago
Dennis,
I’d love a copy. I haven’t got a hope of ever finding it here in New Zealand. It will be extra postage but I’d be happy to spring for that. An autographed copy of course. Would be happy to support you and the carving cause. Your work is extraordinary!
-- Steve, New Zealand, www.steveracz.com
Dick, & Barb Cain
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5384 posts in 836 days
posted 105 days ago
Dennis,
I emailed Shannon, but I already get the magazine, so send one to someone who doesn’t subscribe.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Dennis Zongker
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291 posts in 129 days
posted 105 days ago
Hi Daltxguy,
Thank you! Thats ok, about the shipping. I’ll gladly send you a autographed copy. Just email me your address threw my home page. That way you can keep your address private. Again thank you very much.
-- Dennis Zongker
dennis mitchell
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3048 posts in 851 days
posted 105 days ago
Congratulations! This is pretty cool!
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
jm82435
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237 posts in 279 days
posted 105 days ago
I think you just sold a bunch of magazines subscriptions. Wonderful work as always! Thanks for sharing your talents and enthusiasm for carving.
-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever... - Keats
tartanjock
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7 posts in 284 days
posted 105 days ago
Dennis,
I would like to have acopy of your article in the magazine if you have one left
Thank you so much
TartanJock
-- TartanJock
Arianna
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113 posts in 128 days
posted 105 days ago
Dennis I noticed the grain of the wood is beauitful…..what kind of wood is the chair made out of? Just in case you didn’t see my question….
-- Arianna
Dennis Zongker
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291 posts in 129 days
posted 105 days ago
Hi Arianna,
Sorry I missed your question. The chair is around 80 years old. The wood is Quarted White Oak. The wood was a little dry when I was carving the first 1/16” deep. Then after that the wood was just like normal.
-- Dennis Zongker
Arianna
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113 posts in 128 days
posted 105 days ago
Thank you Dennis…..
-- Arianna
TedM
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1411 posts in 269 days
posted 105 days ago
Congrats!
-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - http://www.woodworkersguide.com
Woodhacker
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686 posts in 260 days
posted 105 days ago
Dennis, I’d like to add my congratulations. You’ve done a phenomenal job here! You’re work deserves this kind of recognition.
If you still have any copies left, I’d sure like one.
-- Martin, Kansas
Michael Brailsford
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193 posts in 130 days
posted 103 days ago
Congratulations! very well deserved.
-- Michael A. Brailsford
tenontim
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960 posts in 281 days
posted 101 days ago
Very nice job on this chair. I re-cane chairs as a side line. I need to learn to carve and really fix ‘em up. Thanks for the post.
-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com
Zuki
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941 posts in 614 days
posted 101 days ago
Great work and congrats on the magazine.
-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them
SCOTSMAN
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539 posts in 122 days
posted 63 days ago
tell me do woodcarving chisells come sharp straight out of the box.I have a few sets as presents from my wife and kids (all grown up now ). Anyway they feel sharp enough don’t cut worth a sausage though. M aybe I am using too hard wood.I want to get started carving this year as I have lifetime of back problems and have to sit a lot and want to get cracking I have a host of sharpenning machines including 2 tormeks big and small so no excuse but I find basswood here very expensive we call it lime incidently anyway your comments and advice would be welcome kindest regards Alistair
-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease