About Bernthewood
Bernie McCarthy is a wood carver and maker of small, wooden items for the home and gifts for special life moments, such as weddings, graduations, coming-of-age celebrations, birthdays and memorials. These gifts become family heirlooms, passed from one generation to the next.
These include boxes, chests, stools, bowls, platters, spoons, decorative combs, and document and cremation boxes, in the 17th-century style of hand carving and construction from England and New England, using Australian, UK, and US timbers.
Gallery
17th century style boxes
These boxes were made in the 1600's to hold the family Bible or other valuable objects, such as embroidery, artifacts, or clothing. The boxes are hand-carved with 17th-century patterns of your choice. Special features include pintle hinges (the back of the box projects a 'pin' into cleats that hold the lid in place and allow it to rotate), square tapered wood pins and nails. The clincher is a 'till', a box within a box. All these are authentic features of 17th-century joinery. Made to order.
Bowls/Platters
Bowls are all hand-carved and shaped. The finish is Tung oil. This is food-safe and gives a semi-gloss finish that shows the grain to perfection and does not yellow with age
Cremation Boxes
I make cremation boxes for commission customers. This box is made of American Sugar Maple. The style is 17th-century England and New England. The carving is typical of this period on the front and sides. The lid carving is a Tudor Rose. The finish is Tung Oil and a top coat of beeswax. This box is larger than usual. Smaller boxes are made to order for adults and children.
Panels/Wall hangings
These panels show hand-carved designs found on 17th-century chest panels, combined with S-scrolls and other typical patterns of the time, to create wall hangings that are then hand-painted in the colours of the period using dry pigments and Tung oil. Colours include ochre and bone black. Made to order
Sculpture
Sculpture is a recent interest, inspired by access to larger pieces of wood and friendship with some accomplished sculptors including Hank Tyler and Philip Cooper.
Jewellery Boxes
Jewellery boxes are personal and made to order. They can be carved on the front, sides, and top of the box. There are many options for lids and trays and wood. Made to order.
Lettercarving
Carving letters in wood is an age-old skill that lends itself to many beautiful pieces with evocative fonts and messages that last as long as the wood.
Decorative Combs
Combs have been made from wood for thousands of years and decorated with motifs from daily life, animals and flowers.
Spoons/Ladles
A hand-made spoon/ladle is an act of defiance against the mass manufacture of everyday objects.
Testimonials
Contact Us
Phone
+61 (0)408 145 819