Chaucer - The Craft Carving

ABOUT THIS CARVING

Full Inscribed Saying: The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne. - Chaucer

Origins: You may know this maxim from its inscription on the famous copper fireplace hood in the living room of Gustav Stickley’s home at Craftsman Farms. However, the origins of this great thought can be traced back to Hippocrates (460 to 370 BCE) who first used it regarding the practice of medicine. It was later borrowed by Geoffrey Chaucer who used it (in 1382) in his writings on the art of love and again in 1901 by Stickley who used it as the motto for his magazine, The Craftsman, and in his mission to produce furniture of the highest possible craftsmanship. Be it love, medicine, craftsmanship or something else, this is a great carving for anyone engaged in any pursuit that benefits from a lifetime of learning.

For design inspiration, we reached back to Chaucer’s original sentence as printed in The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, the famous 1896 publication by William Morris and his Kelmscott Press.

• Product Dimensions: 6" X 32" X 3/4"
• Charitable Category: A portion of the proceeds benefits Educational programs.
• Of Note: Copyright 2016 GTI, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Made in USA.

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