Virtual Art Studios

*For a tour of our actual studios please contact us by email or phone.

This is the eternal origin of art- that a human being confronts a form that wants to become a work through him….What is required is a deed that a man does with his whole being: If he commits it and speaks with his being the basic word to the form appears, then the creative power is released and the work comes into being.
-Martin Buber, I and Thou

Thank you for visiting Custom Carving Studios, where you can view artists at work demonstrating some of the unique techniques that make our work unique. Gabriel Bass, the founder of Custom Carving and The Center for Jewish Art, looks forward to speaking with every client to share his experience with you: consulting, providing sketches, and helping you find the most suitable solution to your space and budget. All work is designed to be a legacy for generations and guaranteed for its craftmanship.
Events and Inspiration

Location

The Custom Carving Studios are nestled in the beautiful surroundings of the Judean Hills, alongside natural springs and scenic trails. The public is always welcome by appointment to view the art gallery, check out work in progress, catch an artist demo, or discuss a future project.

Call 052-676-9789 for appointment and click here for directions and maps

Artist

Gabriel Bass has dedicated his life to building Custom Carving into the most reliable furniture, lighting, and Judaica business in the world, both in high respect of service and product. Gabriel spent years learning from the best artists and craftsmen around the world. Taking the best materials and tools from each, he has been able to develop unique techniques that define his work. Click here to view full artist statement and biography.

Art Studios

The studios are home to wood, glass, and metal workshops, where the most skilled craftmen in Israel produce custom synagogue interiors, home furnishings, judaica, and art.  Peak into any studio, watch a video and read explanations of how Custom Carving produces each piece by hand, using only the finest materials, strongest joinery, and most unique detail work.

Click any icon to enter the studio:

Glass Blowing into original Wood Moulds

We create many original wooden moulds used for glass blowing. This is an exciting technique involving wet wood and hot glass. The moulds are often finished and used in the final product.

Glass blowing in the Hot Shop

Glass blowing in the hot shop is like a dance that involves correography between the material, the artist, his help, and gravity. Watch videos of some exciting techniques!

Handles, Menorah Fittings, and inlays

Learn how we create our own glass handles and knobs, oil and candle fittings, as well as inlays. All are produced with borosilicate glass on a gas/oxygen torch in the warm glass studio. We use many of these products in our furnishings and offer them for sale individually or in quantity.

Joinery

At Custom Carving we work only with solid wood. With proper attention to joinery a solid wood furnishing will last for generations. We use dovetail joinery on all boxes, a finger joint in all our mortise and tennon joints, and employ strong creative joints for portable furniture.

Carving

Carving is one of the most unique details of Gabriel's work. Learn about the straight and curved blade techniques he learned from totem pole carving and has adapted to all aspects of his work.

Local Woods

Many of our products are made from local Israeli woods, such as Olive wood and cypress, carefully harvested and cured by the Custom Carving team.

Carpentry

Learn about some of the carpentry skills necessary to work with solid wood, including cleaning and straightening raw material, gluing wide boards, sanding and applying a durable laquer finish.

Lathe

The lathe allows us to work with wood in the round. Through centrifical force we are able to work with wood in a similar way that we work with glass in the hot shop.

Hardware

By using only the highest quality hardware or building it ourselves in the studio we assure each finished piece looks uniform and will continue to be treasured for generations.