small trinket bowl

i like to experiment with different styles, sizes and approaches to woodturning, and this little bowl was a welcome departure from my usual geometric forms.

simple in appearance, perhaps.

not quite so simple to make.

the scale and the gentle curve presented a different set of challenges, particularly in achieving an even, smooth finish across the whole form. the walls are deliberately thin and match the thickness of the base—another exercise in control and consistency.

and then there was the bottom.

i seem to have developed something of an obsession with getting that inside curve just right: smooth, continuous and, ideally, without any evidence of the battle required to get there.

the form itself is a familiar one among woodturners. once you understand the relationship between the curve, the wall thickness and the tools, it becomes a shape that can be explored almost endlessly—make the blank bigger, make it smaller, alter the proportions and see where it leads.

in this case, i wanted to keep things quiet.

ash, with its understated grain, and a simple wax finish allow the form to take centre stage.

it looks uncomplicated.

which, as i’m increasingly discovering with woodturning, usually means it wasn't.

height 50mm diameter 90mm