live edge burr elm vessel
this piece of wood has been sitting in my wood store for several months, waiting for the right idea to come along.
i knew i wanted to try something new. my skills are developing, and i’m increasingly drawn to pieces that challenge me a little further. this time, it was hollowing out a vessel.
the shape is another slight departure from my more geometric approach. softer, more organic, allowing the timber to have a greater say in the final form.
when i find a piece of wood that really catches my attention, i tend to take my time deciding what it should become. i want the shape to make the most of what the timber is already offering, rather than impose an idea that doesn't quite belong.
this piece of burr elm had been on my mind for a while. eventually, the idea and the timber came together, and it felt like the right time.
turning the outside was a pleasure. hollowing out the centre and bringing the walls to a reasonably consistent thickness was another matter entirely. it demanded patience, concentration and plenty of reassessing as the form developed.
the live edge added a further complication. its uneven surface made securing and supporting the piece particularly challenging. i used ca glue along the way to help stabilise vulnerable areas, but even that couldn't prevent one rather dramatic moment when the vessel spun off the lathe and disappeared into the shavings.
a brief pause in proceedings.
fortunately, the piece survived, and so did my determination to finish it.
the burr itself is mesmerising. the grain twists and gathers into tight swirling eyes, punctuated by small, dark pips. this particular piece has a beautiful warm, reddish-brown colour, set against the contrasting bark of the live edge.
the figure runs right around the vessel, so there really is no back to turn towards the wall. rotate it by a quarter turn and a different arrangement of patterns appears. every angle offers something new.
this is what draws me to burr elm. the complexity is already there; the challenge is to reveal it without overwhelming it with the form.
burr elm is fast becoming the timber i look forward to working with most. i have more waiting in the wood store, which is rather fortunate given how much i enjoyed making this one.
the vessel would sit comfortably on a shelf, table or mantelpiece, but it isn't a piece that demands to be perfectly smooth or uniform. the bark edge is naturally uneven, with a little roughness to the touch, while small voids and dark inclusions are part of the burr's character. these are natural features of the timber, and in this piece they don't compromise its structural integrity.
i wanted the finished form to feel considered without being too controlled. a simple vessel, shaped by hand, with the grain and natural edge doing much of the talking.
it took me into unfamiliar territory, tested my patience and introduced a few unexpected moments along the way.
which, when i think about it, is exactly what i want from this woodturning journey.
there is always something new to learn, and sometimes the best pieces are the ones that make you work hardest for them.
currently nfs
height 11cm widest diameter 13cm
