CLEVER CRAFTSMANSHIP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 21 December 1936, Page 7

CLEVER CRAFTSMANSHIP

AORERE VALLEY WORKED IN WOOD An interesting piece of craftsmanship has been presented to the Nelson Institute Museum in the form of a scene of the Aorere Valley and Kaituna, worked in wood. Ten different varieties of wood have gone into' the making of this piece of work, which was made some 14 years ago by Mr J. W. A. Bigg, of Rockville, who spent about six months on it. Mr Bigg is a gold miner, and worked on the manufacture of cameras in England at the time when each worker made the complete article. He used to live in the valley which he has depicted so artistically and in such durable material, and in the centre is shown the whare, which was burnt down some years ago. The view is of brown hills rising on either side. of the valley, and behind the hut more hills, with here and there a patch of scrub, and a winding track climbing up, and at the back a blue mountain range. In the pale blue sky rides a crescent moon. The base of the picture is carved New Zealand cedar, and the effect is obtained by the clever use of moss and colouring. At the foot of the picture is placed a heart of mica schist with an opawa shell centre. Infinite patience must have been required for the making of the elaborate frame for the scene. A carved scroll almost encircles the picture, and this is framed in the following woods, beautifully polished and patterned: Manuka, totara knot, mountain cedar, pittosporum, mulberry, ribbonwood (lacebark), matipo, maipau, cherrywood, and eno. The title of the scene is “The Aorere Valley and Kaituna from Golden Gully Track.” Another design, “The Transit of Venus,” was destroyed when the whare was burnt.