May 25. 1918 



Hardwood Record — Veneer & Panel Section 



31 



HUDDLESTON-MARSH 

 MAHOGANY COMPANY 



Importers and Manufacturers of 



MAHOGANY 



Lumber and Veneer 



2256 LUMBER STREET 



Chicago, Illinois 



347 MADISON AVENUK 



New York City, N.Y. 



century. At that time Christian Fischer, an exception- 

 ally clever turner at Brienz, produced such wonderful 

 objects in wood that his fame spread throughout the land. 

 He was actually the first to realize the possibilities of 

 woodcarving as a remunerative trade. He offered his 

 advice to the amateur carvers of his district and even 

 started to give systematic instructions to a number of 

 novices. Thus he really laid the foundation stone to the 

 now famous woodcarving school in Brienz. 



The remarkable work of Christian Fischer was brought 

 to the attention of the authorities, and both the federal 

 and cantonal governments, as well as the village of Brienz 

 and other neighboring communities, voted yearly sub- 

 ventions for the maintenance of a woodcarving school. 

 The purpose of this establishment, which was founded in 

 1 860, but which for the first twenty-four years was only 

 a designing school, is to enable woodcarvers to acquire 

 a thoroughly practical and scientific training in their 

 profession. Various side courses offer an opportunity 

 to pupils to specialize in any preferred branch. 



For Swiss citizens the tuition is gratuitous. A registra. 

 tion fee of 10 francs is charged and the pupils are defi- 

 nitely enrolled after a probation of one month. Foreign 

 students are also admitted, provided there is accom- 

 modation, but the yearly tuition fee is at least 50 francs. 

 A considerable portion of the school materials is given to 

 the young people free of charge. The apprenticeship 

 for animal and ornamental carvers is three years and 



for human figure sculptors four years. At the end of 

 these respective terms the students have to pass a state 

 examination. One of the most noteworthy features of 

 the woodcarving school at Brienz is the small zoological 

 park belonging to the institution wherein the students 

 are enabled to make practical animal studies. 



TTie products of the more advanced pupils are on sale 

 in a special showroom. Exhibitions are arranged from 

 time to time so as so acquaint the public with the 

 general activity of the school. Besides a bewildering 

 assortment of the well-known smaller souvenirs, among 

 which there is, however, never a lack of ingenious nov- 

 elties, we find exquisitely worked pieces of furniture, 

 statues, groups, etc. There is a big firm in Brienz — E. 

 Binder & Co. — whose name alone vouches for veritable 

 products of art — all in wood. Their exportations extend 

 all over the globe, and a big portion of the woodcarved 

 articles, especially the crucifixes, which are sold in the 

 mountains of Bavaria and the Tyrol, are manufactured 

 in Brienz. 



Brienz may well be called the wooden village. It is 

 a small, peaceful community situated on the verdant 

 shores of a transparent lake, at the foot of a glorious 

 mountain height. The houses are nearly all in the pic- 

 turesque Bernese Oberland chalet style; spacious old 

 structures of wood, tanned by the sun of many summers. 

 Blissful happiness dwells in this idyllic spot to whom 

 the woodcarving industry has brought comparative pros- 



