The Art of Letter Carving in Stone

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A lovely book and a mine of information - Rated
Tom Perkins is one of the finest modern practitioners of the art and craft of letter-carving in stone, and is also an experienced teacher. These attributes combine to make an ideal author for such a book. Although personal tuition is always desirable, there is enough detailed information and encouragement here for those with an interest in trying their hand to learn for themselves how to cut an inscription, and plenty of guidance on design. The initial resumé of influential modern practitioners gives a valuable context into which those interested can place their work; and the hundreds of good illustrations - only a few full-page but none too small - draw on a wide range of inscriptions by the best of them and well exemplify the variety of scope, style, and inspiration, which makes this art so fascinating. It must be one of the best galleries of modern letter-carving in print; the author's own distinctive style is well represented but not promoted to the exclusion of others, and scattered throughout the book are illuminating statements by other practitioners relating to their illustrated works. Practical aspects are well covered, sometimes quite succinctly, with sections on tools, stone, working methods, memorials, gilding, and the proportions and rhythms underlying various letter forms (the sections on various forms of drawn lettering and variations make up a good third of the book), and pictures of working to illustrate and emphasise the techniques involved. The two pages of bibliography and list of useful addresses are also most valuable.
Richard Grasby's fine and instructive book "Lettercutting in Stone" is superbly detailed on his method of cutting and excellent on a range of other practical advice, but I would recommend this new work by Tom Perkins without hesitation as simply the best overall book on letter-carving to buy that I know; the addition of "Art" in the title is significant, as it contains not only all the necessary practical information but also a wealth of diverse illustrated examples to inspire the aspiring craftsman and artist.