David Warther Carvings

David Warther Carvings is an enjoyable place to visit for every member of the family, any season of the year. The hilltop portico and clock tower pavilion with it’s observation deck provide exceptional views and photo options of the neighboring Amish farms in Walnut Creek Valley.
Join us for a guided tour through our spacious five room exhibit, showing 87-plus antique ivory carvings. David carves daily in his on-site workshop where he regularly demonstrates carving techniques to the visiting public, including his hand filing and sanding technique of making the ivory rigging lines. The DWC is also home to the DWC Gift Shop that has become an attraction in itself and can be visited separately. Featured in the gift shop are the Warther Knives that are made locally.

Exhibits

David Warther’s work is a collection of intricately carved miniatures that depict sailing ships from ancient Egypt, circa 3000 B.C. to modern times. The collection, now numbering over 89 ship carvings, is a highly educational exhibit of maritime history.

Carving from antique ivory and ebony wood, David’s works are designed using blueprints and drawings furnished by maritime scholars and researchers worldwide. Visitors are especially intrigued by the ivory rigging. Each line is made of ivory that has been hand filed to seven thousandths of an inch (.007″) in diameter and then masterfully applied to the ship carving. David developed this hand filing and sanding technique for making “ivory threads” at the age of 13, and has perfected it over the years.

We will offer continuous tours throughout the day, meaning you will need no reservation time and will never have to wait! We begin tours at 9:00 a.m. and the last tour of the day will start at 4:00 p.m.

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