A round-headed carving chisel with a flat cutting edge and rounded end, especially useful for curved forms and as an intermediate tool on softer stones.
Ferrotondo, also described as a round-headed chisel, has a flat cutting edge with a rounded end. Le voci del marmo identifies it as a versatile tool particularly suited to carving curved forms.
On softer stones it can serve as an intermediate tool in place of a toothed chisel, but its rounded geometry makes it less suitable for crisp corners and delicate angular detail.
Etymology
Italian compound: ferro, “iron,” + tondo, “round.”
Sculptor Notes
Tool geometry should correspond to form. The ferrotondo naturally follows convex and concave movement while reducing the risk of accidentally cutting a sharp corner into a curved passage.
References
https://levocidelmarmo.sns.it/scheda_oggetti_relazione.php?denom=ferrotondo&id=20