Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 June 1888 — Carved Basswood. [ARTICLE]

Carved Basswood.

Basswood is capable of being enormously compressed, but if after being subjected to great pressure it be exposed to the action of steam it entirely regains its original bulk. It is said that advantage is taken of this in the production of so-called carved moldings. The “carved” pattern is stamped by dies deep into the wood, the surface of which is then planed down to the level of the lowest depression. If now the wood be steamed the parts originally depressed will regain their original bulk, and will therefore form in relief the pattern of the dies.