The Birth of a Carving

Garrett Nahdee went through many iterations of his design before he settled on the final product that is in the Chamber today. Seen here is one of his early sketches. Most notable, is the difference between the order of the animals between this early drawing and the finished piece.

 

Like many of the other carvings in the Chamber, the Seven Grandfather Teachings is made of mahogany. Known for its reddish-brown colour, mahogany has a straight, fine, and even grain that makes it very durable and easy to work with. As a result, it has remained a favourite wood amongst carvers for crafting cabinets and furniture. We can see the beginnings of Mr. Nahdee’s mahogany carving in this photo.

 

As part of the process, Mr. Nahdee was asked to carve a sample of one of the animals. He chose the eagle because, as he explains, the eagle represents “the spirit of Love. Through one’s journey living through Love, one will gain Respect, and with love will respect others.”

 

Once the carving was complete, the final step was to stain the mahogany to match the other woodwork in the Legislative Chamber. This was accomplished after a painstaking process of trial-and-error to find the perfect shade that would mimic the age and patina of the other carvings.