Researcher Suzanne Ellison turned up this image of the tombstone of menuisier Joseph Cordes of Carcassonne (1832-1884). Check out the detail in the shop, including the glue pot, the threads on the clamp and even the holdfast.
Image by Christophe Marty. Sculpture by Jean Guilhem. The inscription reads: FAMILLE JOSEPH CORDES A DIEU SEUL VERTU HONNEUR SAGESS ET PROBITÉ.
Gorgeous stuff.
— Christopher Schwarz
That is stunning, for the craftsmanship in the carving let alone the family tribute to the joiner. Kudos to Suzanne for another great find. 🙂
A tombstone one can take a lichen to. Thanks Suzanne. Can I come along and sharpen pencils for you?
I have an apprentice position open and there will be a test.
Awwwwww. I was all psyched until I got to the part about the test.
Fantastic, indeed. Thank you for sharing.
I’m pretty sure that’s Roy Underhill planing at the bench. His secret’s out!
It was a trade, the stone mason made the carpenter the headstone and the carpenter made the stone mason a casket.
As a Stone Carver, and Woodworker both…this post made my day…Thanks Chris!
Chris,
I think one of your best finds was Suzanne.
She is incredible and has brought so many interesting and fun things to your company.
I bet a lot of blogs wished they had her on their staff.
By the way, this headstone is a work of art.
Thanks
Eric
How do you come upon all of these different brilliant things? It must take ages to sift through newspaper clippings, pictures, headlines or whatever it might be, when it’s not something directly famous for this or that mural, tapestry, carving or what not. I gather as much as people are great at hinting at something, but that can only be a help so far… Then the mountain is back to being immensely enormous for one little (wo)-man. Research hours must be off the charts.
This was serendipity. I was looking for something else when I stumbled across Joseph Cortes’ tombstone. And, it helps to have good reading glasses!
Frankly, I’m amazed this hasn’t melted in a puddle of acid rain, and it makes me wonder about other examples that might have done just that. I wonder how this one escaped?
Amazing picture! Love how the artist even went so far as to put curly shavings on the floor as well!