The Art of Spoon Making: A Woodworker’s Journey

Tudorache Vasile was just a little boy when his mother passed away in a bus accident. On that fateful day, she was riding back from work. The driver lost control of the bus, which flipped over. The boy was left in shock, which followed him through the rest of his life.

“She was 38 years old when she died, together with an aunt. I was left in shock. I can still see them both,” he recalls.

Standing before his parents’ grave, the past comes back once again. He gazes mournfully at the words that he carved on their crosses. It reads:

“Oh, joyful you! How I wish I could have made it through,

But this earthly clay/ stole my face away.

Hear the sad story that I bury: 

I am Niculina, young and beautiful/ My crash was pitiful…

“It is terribly difficult for me to read this,” he confesses.

To honor the memories of his parents, Mr. Tudorache began carving their wooden crosses himself.

“To me, woodworking is like writing a poem. A finished work is like a well-crafted poem.” 

Having lost his parents has determined him to work harder from a young age. He started as a construction worker, building houses from the foundation to installing the roof shingles. 

“The passion for wood was instilled in me from an early age. It was there, just waiting to come out. I remember watching my father working with the wood, then sneaking out to get a log and start tapping it.”

After marrying Otilia Tudorache, a devoted and loving wife, and having their daughter, they decided to leave for Italy, driven by the pursuit of better living conditions and opportunities. There, he found work in the wood industry and, for years, they did quite well. He mastered the art of cutting trees with a chainsaw, a craft that requires precision, power, and a keen eye, a job where a single mistake can be fatal. In a split second, everything changed for Mr. Vasile Tudorache.

A skilled worker with years of experience, he had swung his axe countless times before, but on this fateful day, fate had other plans. The axe slipped, arcing back in a deadly trajectory, and struck him with brutal force, slicing into his face and changing his life forever.

The road to recovery has been long and arduous. Countless surgeries, endless hours of rehabilitation, and a mountain of medical bills have tested his strength and resolve. But through it all, he has shown remarkable resilience, determined to rebuild his life and reclaim his identity.

The accident has given him a new perspective on life. He has learned to appreciate the little things, to cherish every moment. Back home in Păulești, a commune in Vrancea County, he published his first book of poetry, “Vămile Pâinii. Timpul reîntoarcerii” (lit The Ways of Bread), a plea for the return to the homeland of all those who took the path of wandering, the Romanian emigrants.

He drives us to his house, where he has set up an exposition of his works, including fine art sculptures, columns, different practical objects, like milking chairs, kitchen utensils,  bowls, and loom weaving tools. One can not help but wonder at all the massive wood carvings decorating the front yard, including life-size sculptures and an extensive collection of animal carvings, bears, eagles, and giant spoons with decorative handles that differ from each other. He set to work on a particular spoon. It is four feet tall, with an intricate twisted handle design. 

“This design is inspired by an old spoon that was first made in Bucovina. The custodians use it for pictures. There is no mention of its maker, but it is an honor for me to reproduce it. It’s one of a kind in that area,” he explains.

As the work progresses, it is curious to see how the design is taking shape, and, although Mr. Tudorache makes it look like a piece of cake, I am sure that, behind the scenes, there are hours of practice, of battling the wood’s imperfections, of countless mistakes, all hidden from view, concealed behind a mask of effortlessness.

The appealing scent of wood chips, the sound of birds soaring high above the mountains, and his mesmerizing skill and artistry make it a memorable day. In the kitchen, his wife, who is a good host, is cooking rabbit stew,  the aroma of slow-cooked rabbit wafting through the air, tantalizing the senses and making mouths water. 

Meanwhile, the block of wood yields to his will, transforming into a beautiful spoon. The masterpiece is gradually unveiling. He smiles, his eyes twinkling with a knowing glare, for he has pulled off the ultimate illusion: making the impossible look easy.

The table is set, the savory scent fills the senses, drawing you in.  We gather around the dinner table. But little do we know, a surprise guest is about to join us. The door opens, and the guest walks in with a smile on her face. She stands tall and confident, her slender body adorned in a stunning Romanian costume. Her eyes sparkling with a sharp intelligence, her silver hair is styled in a sophisticated manner under a fancy hat. The blouse, with black and white contrasts and its puffed sleeves, adds a touch of elegance to her already refined features. Her name is Ioana Ichim Costescu.

She is a teacher at a prestigious school in Bucharest, but is also an art collector and a friend who appreciates the work of Mr. Vasile Tudorache. Her work includes a series of novels, “Ander si cedrii Libanului”,  “Descătușarea fericirii”, just to name a few. As a good friend, she came by to greet them, to express her admiration for the work of Mr. Tudorache, and her deep love for the ancient traditions and customs.

Her eyes sparkle as she presents the beautiful 20th-century costume that belonged to her mother. The costume is more than just a garment; it is an emotional connection to her mother, and a work of art.

“This is an example of a traditional costume made in Păulești since ancient times. It is a “Praise Wear”. Any woman over 60 should craft a “Praise Wear”. It belonged to my mother, who made it 35 years ago,” she says. “About forty crosses were worked each day. The Praise Wear was worn to Church.  It was a way of honoring their ancestral faith,” she explains.

As we gather around the table, admiring the masterpiece before us, I can’t help but feel a sense of gratitude. Mr. Tudorache’s dedication and craftsmanship have resulted in a truly remarkable piece, one that will be trasured for generations to come.

Location: Păulești Commune, Vrancea, Romania

Contact Vasile Tudorache: 004 0787 335 566

For English, contact Vasile Tudorache’s daughter, Nicoleta, at 004 0730 812 632

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tudorache.vasilesiotilia