German Masterclass

["Bernd Buerklin" <bernd@zzzzzzzzzzzzz>]

Hi there everyone!
The leftover rods sticking out of the Sculptures are indeed from the use of
a pointing machine. The reason to leave the "jig-points" (if I may call them
that for lack of better words) in is simply to give the overseeing master
sculptors the opportunity to check the work for accuracy since, at the
"exam", the copied plaster (or other material) model and the used pointing
machine will be present. I saw and used them many times during my time as a
stone sculptor in Germany. They are extremely common and pretty much the
german standard for transfering a 1:1 model into stone. Use is very simple
and straight forward. I will elaborate on request.
Birgit got it right on with her description of the "becoming a master stone
carver". You basically need the master degree to be allowed to do any stone
business in Germany at all. Good or bad? Who can tell? It's about trying to
secure standards. I always thought it's a great system but hopelessly
overregulated.
Bernd Buerklin