Jim Silva
03-24-2012, 5:52 PM
I'm a Nantucket basketmaker for a living (some would say basket case... tomayto, tomahto lol) and 7 or 8 years ago started combining weaving with woodturning. Here are a few pieces from the last couple of years.
Nantucket baskets are woven on moulds and typically feature hardwood bases, rims, handles, etc. These Nantucket turnings are my original fusion of the two mediums of weaving and woodturning. They're woven right onto the bowl itself and I've got several different series from bowls to platters and vases/vessels.
First up is an 11" Nantucket turning from my "Unity" series. This bowl is of spalted maple and cane. The second image is the bottom of the bowl showing the weaving in more detail. I've never counted but I believe there are roughly 100 ribs/staves in this bowl and the weaver is 1.5mm wide.
Third photos shows an 8" Nantucket turning of the "Island" series of bowls and is of local black cherry and cane. The pattern (it's tough to see here) are several spirals that wind their way around the bowl, stop, and start again. Although Nantucket baskets are notable for having the ribs very close to each other and almost watertight they're woven so closely, I let the ribs spread open as I neared the rims to flow better with the form and to give it a "clockwork" kind of effect where you could see the inside of the weaving as it were.
I'm currently working up some new stuff to get out before the summer season opens. Hope you like.
Jim
227957227958227959
Nantucket baskets are woven on moulds and typically feature hardwood bases, rims, handles, etc. These Nantucket turnings are my original fusion of the two mediums of weaving and woodturning. They're woven right onto the bowl itself and I've got several different series from bowls to platters and vases/vessels.
First up is an 11" Nantucket turning from my "Unity" series. This bowl is of spalted maple and cane. The second image is the bottom of the bowl showing the weaving in more detail. I've never counted but I believe there are roughly 100 ribs/staves in this bowl and the weaver is 1.5mm wide.
Third photos shows an 8" Nantucket turning of the "Island" series of bowls and is of local black cherry and cane. The pattern (it's tough to see here) are several spirals that wind their way around the bowl, stop, and start again. Although Nantucket baskets are notable for having the ribs very close to each other and almost watertight they're woven so closely, I let the ribs spread open as I neared the rims to flow better with the form and to give it a "clockwork" kind of effect where you could see the inside of the weaving as it were.
I'm currently working up some new stuff to get out before the summer season opens. Hope you like.
Jim
227957227958227959