It's time to turn my attention to shaping and carving the legs. Let's look at the leg profile and design pattern from the first table:
The carved pattern for the new table is a Fluere de-lis with a descending diamond figure.
I will be keeping to toe design but the leg will not narrow at the toe.
The profile is a generousely shaped cabriole form.
The carved design is an acanthus leaf descending from a flowered shell figure. The leg profile narrows as the foot ends in a modified French Toe- a small carved scroll on "point"
The legs are still in fairly rough form.
Now I'll shape the legs through the use of a spokeshave and various carving gouges, and files.
I finished the general shaping and carving of all four legs except for the Fleure de lis element that will be at the intersection of the top of the leg and the apron pieces.
I carved the Fleure de lis elements separately. I drew the design then cut the lines into the wood with various gouges.
From there it's a matter of removing the background till the element is "raised"
Once each piece is defined I cut it from the stock and begin another.
Each element gets glued to the top of a leg. I'll refine the carving further once the piece has set.
On the next page we'll start carving the apron sections.
