Filo elicoidale
A historic helical steel-wire sawing system that cut marble by carrying water and abrasive sand through the cut, widely used in Carrara before diamond wire.
Stone Carving
Macchina a controllo numerico (CNC)
A computer-controlled machine used to remove stone according to digital coordinates or toolpaths, including roughing operations in contemporary marble sculpture workshops.
Messa ai punti
The traditional process of transferring measured three-dimensional reference points from a model to a block of stone so the copy can be carved accurately.
Sbozzatore
A traditional marble-workshop specialist responsible for the heavy roughing stage, removing excess stone and bringing the block toward the principal masses of the intended sculpture.
Smodellatore
A traditional marble-workshop specialist who brings a roughed block closer to the model by establishing principal forms, dimensions, and proportions before final finishing.
Raspatore
A traditional workshop specialist responsible for refining marble with rasps and related abrasive hand tools after the principal chisel work has established the form.
Lucidatore
A traditional workshop specialist responsible for polishing marble and bringing selected surfaces to their intended degree of sheen.
Finitore
A workshop specialist responsible for the final refinement of a marble sculpture after roughing, modeling, rasping, and other preparatory stages.
Scultore di mani
A specialist sculptor in the traditional marble workshop particularly skilled at carving hands, one of the most difficult and visually sensitive parts of the human figure.
Ornatista
A specialist ornamental carver who executes decorative sculpture, architectural ornament, foliage, moldings, and related carved detail.