EMBOSSING WOOD

( Bo age , Fr.; Erhabenes Arbeit , Germ.) Raised figures upon wood, such as are employed in picture frames and other articles of ornamental plaster of Paris, or other composition, and cementing, or otherwise fixing it on the surface of the wood. The former mode is expensive; the latter is inapplicable on many occasions. The invention of Mr. Streaker may be used either by itself, or in aid of carving; and depends on the fact, that if a depre ion be made by a blunt instrument on the surface of the wood, such depre ed part will again rise to its original level by subsequent immersion in the water. The wood to be ornamented having been first worked out to its proposed shape, is in a state to receive the drawing of the pattern; this being put on, a blunt steel tool, or burnisher, or die, is to be applied succe ively to all those parts of the pattern intended to be in relief, and, at the same time, is to be driven very cautiously, without breaking the grain of the wood, till the depth of the depre ion is equal to the intended prominence of the figures. The ground is then to be reduced by planing or filing to the level of the depre ed part; after which, the piece of wood being placed in water, either hot or cold, the part previously depre ed will rise to its former height, and will then form an embo ed pattern, which may be finished by the usual operations of carving. For this invention the Society of Arts voted to Mr. Streaker their silver Isis medal, and ten guineas.