418 Art of moulding Carving in Wood , 
liow expensive it would be to transport such a case, 
which might also be damaged by the way. I told him 
that I would myself undertake the carving of the laurel 
and oak foliage which I had placed in the plan, provided 
he would undertake the remaining part. Fearing, how- 
ever, that my carving would not correspond to his work, 
and might tend to degrade it, he was unwilling to under- 
take any thing till I had shown him a specimen of my 
labour— a proposal to which I consented. 
I was well aware that very hard wood, such as box, 
might be moulded by putting it under a press in copper 
moulds, after having subjected it to certain preparations : 
but for this purpose very expensive moulds, an excellent 
press, &c. are required, which occasions considerable ex- 
pense, and by this method bas-reliefs only can be execu- 
ted. But the art I am about to describe requires only 
cheap materials with very little practice, and affords the 
means of making not only figures in relief, but even the 
most difficult objects of sculpture. 
In the town where I resided I found one of those Ita- 
lians who employ themselves in moulding plaister figures. 
I caused him to make such moulds as I had occasion for, 
and which were copies from the best masters. I suc- 
ceeded perfectly in moulding my garlands in walnut-tree 
wood 5 and I showed them to my cabinet-maker, who 
took me for an able sculptor. He constructed the case, 
applied to it the foliage I had made, and neither he nor 
any person who saw it had the least suspicion of the me- 
thod I had employed. All believed that the ornaments 
had proceeded from the chisel of an able carver. Since 
that time I have moulded for my friends bas-reliefs, 
trophies, &c. with wood of every kind. I shall now de- 
scribe my process. 
