Here is a remarkable study of English woodcarvers and woodcarving from the earliest times to furniture craftsmen of the Georgian era. The book pays special attention to the role of the carver in work designed for the Crown over several hundred years. The center of Oughton's study revolves around Grinling Gibbons, one of the great stylists -- as exemplified by his work at St. Paul's Cathedral, Windsor Castle, and other historic buildings.

Also included are illustrated notes on the various carving styles, reproductions of contemporary documents, and an extract from the author's major research study, Inventory of Woodcarving in the British Isles.