History of the carved icon. Models for CNC.

In this article we will talk about how the carved icon appeared, what stages were passed through, and what kind of persecution carved images in Rus' were subjected to at one time. And many other interesting facts.

And you can always buy models for making carved icons on CNC machines from us. For your attention - a wide range of stl files, the possibility of making to order.

How did the history of the carved icon begin?

Wood has always been valued in Rus' for its availability, softness, and pliability. For durability and strength. For the prevalence and large selection of varieties. For the ability to manufacture a wide variety of products and wide application.

When Christianity came from Byzantium to Russian lands, it turned out that it was impossible to paint images on the wooden frames of the first churches of Ancient Rus', unlike the white stone walls of Byzantine churches.

Ancient masters began to create images of Saints on small wooden boards. Which was the beginning of icon painting. These boards became known as icons. They are the most widely used. They were attached to altar partitions, which later grew into multi-story carved iconostases.

As for the history of the appearance of carved icons, it is known that this tradition came to us from the Byzantine Empire, where, according to chronicles, images completely carved from wood appeared in the 1st century AD.

Masters in Rus' began to make carved icons from wood only in the 11th century AD.

At the same time, our country was famous for its craftsmen. Carving craftsmen decorated household and home items with carved decorations. Including religious items.

Huge reserves of wood made wooden carved icons very common in Ancient Rus'.

At the same time, other church paraphernalia began to appear, made of wood and richly decorated with carved patterns: wooden crosses, folding icons, containers for storing the relics of saints and righteous people, and so on. In the 15th century, iconostases were richly decorated with carvings.

Since ancient times, Russian craftsmen understood the types of trees, knew which ones were most suitable for carving, which ones provided the product with the longest service life and high preservation. Naturally, all these were only those trees that grew on the territory of Russia. Mainly oak, beech, birch. In rare cases, imported material was used.

Carved icons were very expensive. The fact is that despite the wide distribution of this type of applied art, it was not so much to find a master capable of carving complex details from wood (facial features of a saint). Certain knowledge, skills, flair, and taste were needed.

Relief icons were sometimes painted with paints made from natural pigments, in some cases decorated with precious stones, which gave them even greater value. And to protect them from damage, rotting and deterioration, the icons were treated with beeswax and lubricated with purified oil.

Russian wood carving art reached its greatest flourishing in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

At this time, images are created that are incredibly attractive and appreciated not only in Russia, but also in other countries.

Persecution of a carved icon:

The development of Russian carved icons was hampered by the suddenly changing mood of the Russian Orthodox Church. Carved icons were considered an allusion to paganism and Catholicism. In those days, any sculptures were prohibited. Accordingly, relief cutting received a strict veto.

Samples of carved icons from those years have not survived to this day for other reasons related to city fires, wars and civil strife, uprisings, and natural disasters.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the reform of Patriarch Nikon, which became a powerful blow to the history of carved icons. In the mid-17th century, Patriarch Nikon forbade all master carvers from making carved icons and sculptures and keeping them in churches and homes. The fear of death forced many people to part with icons. They were chopped down with axes and burned at the stake. The traditions of Russian carved architecture as a whole had to change their direction. Even in the decoration of houses and temples, sculptural sharpness was not allowed.

Despite the fact that voluminous church carvings flourished during the reign of Peter the Great, when sculptures and rich decor came back into fashion, carved icons remained prohibited in those days.

Many Russian masters were forced to move to the North and Siberia. There, in secret from the state and church, Old Believers continued to make carved icons. The icons had to be hidden. Nevertheless, the masters had their own students and followers.

The works of Russian masters of those years have been preserved and are stored in museums, including the Hermitage and the Tretyakov Gallery.

Carved icon in our time:

The carved icon received a new flourishing only in our time.

Interest in relief icons resurfaced.

The Church recognizes such images.

Moreover, a three-dimensional icon allows people with low vision or blindness to feel the image tactilely. What makes carved icons in demand in specialized churches, hospitals, libraries, etc.

Modern craftsmen use modern technologies in their work.

The combination of experience and knowledge, education, skills of craftsmen with the capabilities of programmable numerically controlled machines allows us to obtain the highest quality and attractive carved icons, impressive in their appearance.

How are carved icons made these days? Stages:

• The customer turns to the master or to us for a 3D model of the future icon. Sends his wishes. The image of the saint, the frame of the icon, features of the background, clothing.
• We create a sketch and coordinate it with the master or the customer.
• Next, we prepare a file in Stl format, with the help of which the program for the CNC machine will be built.
• The wizard generates a program based on our file, starts the device, and receives an icon. Performs finishing work (grinding, trimming, if necessary, painting or gilding, varnishing).
• The customer receives the product.
• Having a model will help you “see” in advance what the product will look like after running the CNC machine and make changes in time. In addition, it is thanks to the data embedded in the model that a control program for the device is built and the machine understands what needs to be cut and along what path.

The use of the machine makes the production of icons faster, higher quality, and more accurate.

Moreover, the icon can be of any complexity and any size.

Call, write, order models or buy ready-made ones! We have a wide range of products in the section: icon models in Stl format.

See more related articles:

• Types of iconostases, 3D models in stencil format for CNC machines
• Church decor: features, types, symbolism. CNC products for churches and temples.
• 3D models of products for churches and temples