Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB)

Designation of occupation

Wood sculptor (m/f)

Duration of traineeship

3 years
The venues for training delivery are the training company and the vocational school

Field of activity

Wood sculptors carve flat and shaped wood and produce wood sculptures involving artistry and craftsmanship.
Their field of activity ranges from the production, maintenance and restoration of ecclesiastical and secular sculptures, furniture, fittings, tombs, toys, games equipment, scripts, ornaments, signs and reliefs to the crafting of sculpture patterns and moulds and carrying out sculpting assignments for use in connection with buildings, cemeteries and architectural landscaping.

Occupational skills

Wood sculptors are capable of working to specifications or using their own creativity to draft, design and draw sculpting and carving work on the basis of aesthetic and functional considerations; of discussing a commission with the commissioner; of carrying out their work taking due account of economic and ecological considerations; and of assessing the quality of the finished product. Wood sculptors carry out their work independently, observing the requirements of health and safety at the workplace. In their work wood sculptors apply the following skills acquired during their initial vocational training:

• production of drawings and working plans and the use of technical documentation;
• drafting, design and preparation of sculptures and carvings, and production of stencils and templates;
• production of patterns and moulds in various materials;
• use of different moulding techniques and materials;
• storage, selection and preparation of materials in accordance with economic, ecological and design considerations; processing of wood, stone, metals and plastics;
• selection, handling and maintenance of measuring devices, tools and additives for processing wood, stone, plastics and metals;
• basic metalworking skills;
• setting up, operating and maintenance of machinery and machine tools;
• sculpting and carving of various materials;
• conversion of measurements from patterns and drawings;
• shaping of woods, plastics and stone; assembly of workpieces;
• preparation and treatment of wood, stone, plastic and metal surfaces using techniques appropriate to the material and specifications concerned;
• measurement and production of foundations;
• relocation, anchoring and assembly of workpieces;
• erection and dismantling of temporary scaffolding;
• operation of lifting and transportation devices;
• restoration of sculptures and carvings taking due account of artistic style;
• repair of damaged parts;
• repair and restoration of damaged surfaces.

Last modified on: December 12, 2006