Wallis
Though he was born in the city of Hull, Thomas Wilkinson Wallis spent most of his life in Louth, Lincolnshire. Born in 1821, he died in 1903. He learnt the craft of woodcarving during a long apprenticeship in the city of his birth but as he grew older he demonstrated that his talent was extraordinary. Using single blocks of lime wood, he was able to carve remarkable decorative pieces in which fine tools such as scalpels were used to create incredible detail. For example, his carved ivy leaves are as thin as living ivy leaves. Some of his work is on display in Louth Museum and though the pieces are over one hundred and sixty years old, the skills that he possessed remain very apparent. He needed more than immense patience and a steady hand, he also required daring and vision. Thomas Wallis was acclaimed in his own lifetime and received numerous commissions - including one or two from America. He was also invited to send examples of his work ...