Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 9
Flemish 'Tailleur'
producing a 'frijnen'
finish, but using a
narrower rather than
the usual full-width
chisel, on a cut-
moulded brick.
lengths and shapes with integral handles, and having flat, convex, or concave
shaped (smooth or combed) blades set into slots all along its underside, paral-
lel or angled against the direction of 'push' (Fig. 10). In England, this tool is
referred to as a 'French scraper' or 'French plane', only used on soft stones;
and according to English masons it was never popular. In Flanders, the steen-
schaaf was, and is still used by the bricklayer/mason for running along a stone
or brickwork dressing
in situ
, during the finishing process, in a similar manner
to how a carpenter planes his wood, to both line up the work and clean the
faces. In Saint Omer in French Flanders, the steenschaaf was observed in use
by masons restoring an historic stone façade, both for shaping individual stones
on the bench as well as for
in situ
planing of the built work. These French-
speaking masons, however, called the plane a 'rabotin' (pronounced 'rab-
otan') rather than a steenschaaf.
In the Vrij Technisch Instituut (VTI) te Brugge, advanced-level craft stu-
dents are given high-quality training in restoration skills necessary to maintain
the architectural heritage of Brugges and the surrounding area of Flanders;
including brick and stonework. Here, amongst the many Flemish methods
of working bricks post-fired, it was particularly interesting to observe students
using mechanical carborundum grinding stones to abrade shapes into the faces
of bricks, where possible, for enriched mouldings. The bricks to be shaped could
