Monument Inventory
Hand-Crafted Process
Monuments can have different finishes and we use many different carving techniques to achieve the desired aesthetic effect. Different from most monuments available today, our monuments are polished and carved completely by hand. Here are some examples of finish and carving styles.
Rock Pitch Styles
Rock pitching is the action of taking a chisel and hammer and breaking away the stone leaving a rough, rocky surface know as rock pitch. Different styles of rock pitch give monuments the chance to look more natural, particularly around the top and sides, with some styles appearing more extreme than others.
Shell Rock Pitch
Shell rock pitch is much less commonly used than it once was and is becoming another lost art of monument making.
First, I start with a much larger block of granite allowing at least five inches of extra material on all sides and top. I will then work off material with either feathers and wedges (there are several names for them ) or, with an 18 pound sledgehammer (which is what I prefer).
A carver needs to understand the grain pattern and know where to hit, how hard to hit, and how the stone is going to react. The goal is to remove stone leaving behind scoop-like patterns in the granite, without leaving any tool marks or flat spots.
Connect With Me
Please contact me with any questions and to request information, to see my work in Winchester, CT, or to set up a time to visit my workshop in Bristol, CT.
Call 203.565.6011, or email michaelangelicola@yahoo.com.
Follow me on social media to learn about open-house events and my latest projects.
