stonecraft
Carving mineral materials
Stonecraft is the skill or art of working with stone—shaping, carving, or constructing with it.
The term covers everything from masonry and sculpture to the making of stone tools: Traditional stonecraft techniques have been passed down for generations.
Like other -craft compounds (woodcraft, metalcraft), it emphasizes learned skill and hands-on practice rather than industrial production.
Shaping by cutting away
- chiselEdged carving implement
- statueThree-dimensional sculpted likeness
- bas-reliefSculpture projecting slightly
- bustFailure or sculpture
figurine · relief · sculptor · marble · alabaster · granite · limestone · soapstone
Precision-cut building stone
- mortarGrinding bowl or binder
- trowelFlat blade for spreading
- chiselEdged carving implement
- pointingDirecting attention somewhere
jointing · coursing · drystone · rubble · veneer · cladding · keystone · lintel
Resistance to penetration
- graniteIgneous rock, quartz-rich
- basaltFine-grained volcanic stone
- quartziteMetamorphic silica-rich stone
- flintSpark-producing sedimentary rock
toughness · resilience · longevity · permanence · endurance · strength · solidity · wear-resistant
carving
Shaping by cutting away
- chiselEdged carving implement
- statueThree-dimensional sculpted likeness
- bas-reliefSculpture projecting slightly
bust · figurine · relief · sculptor · marble · alabaster · granite · limestone · soapstone · jade
ashlar
Precision-cut building stone
pointing · jointing · coursing · drystone · rubble · veneer · cladding · keystone · lintel · quoin
hardness
Resistance to penetration
- graniteIgneous rock, quartz-rich
- basaltFine-grained volcanic stone
- quartziteMetamorphic silica-rich stone
flint · toughness · resilience · longevity · permanence · endurance · strength · solidity · wear-resistant · weathering
flintknapping
Striking stone to shape tools
- arrowheadsSharpened projectile tips
- handaxesPrehistoric stone cutting implements
- chertFine-grained siliceous stone
obsidian · lithic · Paleolithic · Neolithic · Clovis · core · blade · scraper · knapper · percussion
polishing
Smoothing by friction
shaping · cutting · drilling · engraving · etching · inlay · lapidary · faceting · tumbling · sanding
stonecraftwoodworking
Craft of shaping lumber
woodcraft · metalworking · metalcraft · textile arts · leatherwork
stonecraftpapercraft
Making things from paper
textile arts · fiber arts · soft sculpture · ice sculpture · felt-making
stone, craft, crafty, stony, craftsman, craftsmanship, mason, gravestone, cobblestone