limewood
Carver's favorite material
Limewood is the pale, fine-grained wood of the linden tree, prized for carving because it cuts cleanly in any direction and holds intricate detail.
Medieval and Baroque sculptors favored it for altarpieces and ornamental work: Grinling Gibbons carved his famous swags and garlands in limewood.
The British term; Americans more often say basswood.
Soft-wooded North American tree
- chiselEdged carving implement
- sculptureShaped three-dimensional art
- whittlingKnife-carving wood into shapes
- reliefEasing of distress
altarpiece · triptych · gouge · mallet · craftsman · artisan · woodcarving · grain
Sheds foliage seasonally
- barkSharp canine vocalization
- leavesTree's photosynthetic organs
- blossomFlower on fruit tree
- honeyBees' viscous nectar product
bees · pollination · shade · avenue · heartwood · sapwood · sapling · canopy
Tone-amplifying wooden surface
- guitarFretted stringed instrument
- luthierStringed instrument craftsperson
- tonewoodAcoustically selected lumber
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
acoustic · vibration · carving · lightness · workability · harpsichord · organ · pipes
Coniferous tree lumber
- lightweightLacking mass or importance
- fine-grainedComposed of minute particles
- workableAble to be implemented
- paleLacking color intensity
smooth · pliable · uniform · texture · density · stability · durability · blonde
basswood
Soft-wooded North American tree
- chiselEdged carving implement
- sculptureShaped three-dimensional art
- whittlingKnife-carving wood into shapes
relief · altarpiece · triptych · gouge · mallet · craftsman · artisan · woodcarving · grain · figurine
deciduous
Sheds foliage seasonally
honey · bees · pollination · shade · avenue · heartwood · sapwood · sapling · canopy · branches
soundboard
Tone-amplifying wooden surface
- guitarFretted stringed instrument
- luthierStringed instrument craftsperson
- tonewoodAcoustically selected lumber
resonance · acoustic · vibration · carving · lightness · workability · harpsichord · organ · pipes
softwood
Coniferous tree lumber
- lightweightLacking mass or importance
- fine-grainedComposed of minute particles
- workableAble to be implemented
pale · smooth · pliable · uniform · texture · density · stability · durability · blonde · creamy