Shadrach Mace splitting backs for the chairs

In response to a request in 1954 from Louise Pitman, director of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, traditional woodworker Shadrach Mace sent her a series of snapshots with captions on the back describing the processes he used to hand craft his chairs. This snapshot shows Mace kneeling as he uses a mallet to drive the froe into the wood. This allows him to split off the narrow strip used to create a chairback. His caption for the photograph is "Splitting backs for the chairs." Shadrach Birdic "Birdie" Mace was also known as S.B. Mace, Birdie Mace, and Shadrick Mace