Category: Uncategorized

Granite has been used to construct some of the world’s most beautiful and durable monuments, sculptures, public artworks, and landmarks – due to its versatility, natural beauty and durability. These days many granite businesses – HGH being one – are equipped with new tech and equipment to support the design process, using solutions, such as:

• CAD based design progams
• CNC cutting and milling
• 3D modelling software

But there are some projects when nothing less than the hand-sculpted work of a master craftsperson will do. At HGH, our craftspeople use the following tools regularly to create striking sculptures with natural stone:

• Air Hammer: pneumatic hammers provide maximum power and are used with a selection of carbide chisels for removing layers of excess material from granite to reveal a more defined and refined pattern or design in the stone. Pneumatic hammers range in size, making them suitable for roughing large applications down to projects that require detail and precision.
• Chisels: pneumatic diamond and carbide chisels are used for bushing, cutting and roughing and come in a range of sizes and styles. They are generally used in multiple steps of the sculpting process to create the shape. For the fine artistic details, a sculptor selects chisels with finer tips to allow them to carve out small, intricate areas.
• Die Grinder: a sculptor will use a die grinder and attach diamond plated wheels and diamond blades to shape and create the final artistic details of a project. As the finer details take shape, using smaller sized blades allows the sculptor to produce the final definition.

A look at some of our favourite hand sculpting projects

We’ve had the privilege of working on a variety of iconic monuments and projects throughout our history. Here are just a few….

Maanjidowin (The Gathering), Toronto

The Maanjidowin sculpture, which sits in a lofty position beside the ferry terminal that takes passengers from the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to downtown Toronto on the mainland, was commissioned by PortsToronto to honour the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and their relationship to the land, air and water (on which the airport now operates).

The sculpture – created by David M. General, Mohawk Nation, Wolf Clan of the Six Nations – features three mythical fishers who’ve arrived at Toronto’s Lake Ontario shoreline to fish. The canoe in which they sit is inscribed with words and symbols signifying the Mississaugas’ guiding principles. The animals were hand-polished in India, and HGH provided the granite and engraved the finished artwork.

Markham Veterans Square, Markham, Ontario

This historic cenotaph was reimagined, refurbished and unveiled as part of a new multi-functional site to honour Markham Veterans in 2018. The memorial serves as a gathering place for the community and stands tall alongside Veterans Square. We provided the granite, and our craftspeople hand-shaped each of the oak leaves.

Moccasin Identifier, Trillium Park, Toronto

Trillium Park on Toronto’s iconic waterfront comprises 7.5 acres of public green space, filled with native trees, plants, flowers and beautiful sedimentary rocks and boulders. Inspired by the Ontario landscape itself, the park was designed in consultation with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. The Ravine with Moccasin Identifier comprises two stone walls connected by a bridge that frames Lake Ontario and forms the gateway to the park. A celebration of First Nations’ heritage and culture, the moccasin identifier engraved into the stone is a visual reminder to recognize and honour the past. HGH provided the granite on this project and our craftspeople engraved the large-scale moccasins onto the Ravine’s granite walls.

Joseph Brant Museum sculpture, Burlington, Ontario

We sourced granite from our partners in India for this sculpture by indigenous artist David M General, which will sit outside the Joseph Brant Museum in Ontario. The figurines were hand-polished in India and HGH will carry out the final installation.

Hand Sculpting Inspiration

Looking for more hand sculpting examples? Take a look at the below showcase of projects HGH has collaborated on.

Contact us today

Did you know that we at HGH Granite have been providing granite services all over Ontario for the last 90 years? Our vision and business model have helped build a loyal customer base that relies on our expertise and quality workmanship. Over the years, our team has grown with like-minded individuals that share the same passion for providing outstanding granite products and services. Let us help build your vision.

 

Indian Black Granite Challenges – And 3 Solutions

Here at HGH we’re continuously briefed on the status of the quarries we source from around the world – and have recently been told by two of our valued suppliers in India that the industry is experiencing difficulties in sourcing Jet Black and Premium Black granites.

Being 100% transparent with our customers and clients is a cornerstone of our business, which is why – although the news might spark some concerns – we think it’s important to share it with you now.

Firstly, we’ll discuss the contributing factors behind the shortages – and secondly, we’ll offer a range of reassuring solutions

What are the contributing factors to the Indian black granite shortages?

1. Demand
   There’s been a surge in demand for Indian Black over the past few years – an effect of black quarry sites in both China and Africa being closed, depleted, or delivering insufficient quality.

2. Quarry closures
   During the pandemic, many black granite quarries in India were shut down because they weren’t compatible with adequate social distancing measures and put workers at risk. Multiple quarries remain closed. While new quarries are soon expected to open in three states in India, it’s not expected these sites will begin extracting granite, due to stringent, new environmental restrictions.

3. Decreasing yield and quality
   A number of the quarry sites that supply us with Jet Black and Premium Black granite are currently running around a depth of 200 feet. Unfortunately, the yield is decreasing due to an increase in flaws. We’re aware of cases where black blocks come out of the quarry and the outside of the block appears to be our Jet Black material, but once cut and polished, it takes on the appearance of a coarse medium grain that can’t be classified as Jet Black.

What are the solutions?

Let us reassure you that we’re still able to supply you with the Jet Black and Premium Black granites from India that you love. However, to reduce reliance on this in-demand stone, ease strain on quarries – and keep your customers happy – we suggest the following:

1. Suggest and promote alternative blacks to your clients, such as Cambrian Black or American Black
2. When selling, encourage your clients to consider alternative granite colour options from both domestic and overseas quarries
3. We recommend highlighting the distinctiveness of variegated granites to your customers, too. Aurora, American Black, Bahama Blue, Paradiso and Himalayan Blue are all beautiful and make cemetery memorials truly unique.

We’re constantly monitoring the current situation in an effort to minimize the disruption to your orders. We hope the above information has been helpful – but if you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Cenotaphs are public memorials, often funded by communities, that are created to commemorate those involved or fallen in conflict.  Continue reading “The Significance of Cenotaphs in Public Life”

Public art injects cities, towns and communities with aesthetic wonder and cultural cachet – along with instilling a sense of belonging and civic pride in the community. Continue reading “A Closer Look At Granite In Public Art”

There’s a reason that contractors, artists, landscape architects and designers love working with granite as much as we love sourcing it for them.

Granite rocks in every sense of the word. Here’s why… Continue reading “5 Reasons Granite Is The King Of Rock For Public Projects”

At HGH Granite, we’ve had the huge honour of creating memorials and gravestones for a wide range of clients. Each brief is special to us, and we pour our expertise, knowledge and craftsmanship into every aspect. We believe cemetery memorials are important for many, many reasons – and here’s why: Continue reading “Why Cemetery Memorials Are So Important”

One of the many advantages of using granite is its durability and the ability to look great for years with minimal maintenance. However, like everything else, granite can also suffer damage that might need an expert hand. This is where HGH Granite comes in to provide you with years of experience in installing and repairing granite in Ontario. Read on to learn more about our granite repair services. Continue reading “A guide to repair services at HGH Granite”