Scultura lignea: contributi per una storia tecnica

This paper deals with the scientific identification of species utilised for the production of wooden sculptures in the exhibition, Il Teatro del Sacro (Asti, 2009), of statues dating back to 17th and 18th centuries. All the statues came f rom the diocese of Asti (Northwest Italy). Problems in the sample drawing are analysed, together with the results, described by period and author, on the basis of the iden- tified species. Almost all the statues were made of poplar or willow wood, except two, made of walnut wood. The paper describes also the principal technological characteristics of the identified woods, considering specifically their utilisation for carving works.