Decorative Spoon Carving Techniques

Once you’ve learned the fundamentals of spoon carving, adding decorative elements such as color, texture and relief carving opens a range of possibilities to personalize your work.

Published by Mortise & Tenon Magazine, this book explores eight distinctive techniques, each presented by an accomplished modern spoon carver, ranging from subtle surface treatments to bold, expressive ornamentation, with clear instruction and step-by-step guidance throughout.

Topics include roasting, ebonizing, chip carving, lettering, figure carving and painting, as well as kolrosing (adding detailed patterns of pigment-filled lines) and urushi (a traditional Japanese technique using natural lacquer).

An inspiring companion to a core spoon-carving practice, and an excellent way to expand your repertoire with methods that are rarely covered together in a single book.

Smyth-sewn softcover, 7" × 9 1/2", 128 pages, 2025.