Maple Burl Vase

[Steve Schlumpf]

This Maple burl vase was roughed out back in August – see this thread (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?190340-Maple-Burl-Vase-Rough-Out&highlight=) – and I finally found time to finish it! :D

Final dimensions are: 13 ½” high x 8 ¾” diameter x 3/16” thick, except at the very bottom which is slightly thicker to provide ballast. The vase was given multiple coats of wipe-on poly and then rubbed back to a matte finish using 0000 steel wool. It was given a few coats of Renaissance wax to give it a slight sheen and soft feel.

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As always, your opinions, comments and critiques are welcomed!

Thanks for looking!

[Roger Chandler]

Wow......a lot going on with that piece of wood! Different form for you Steve......a little angular shoulder and neck with a rounded bottom.......interesting combination. Glad it held together for you......did you have to wrap it while hollowing?

[John Keeton]

Steve, I have enjoyed all of the larger pieces you have been doing lately, but this is one of the best! Fantastic chunk of wood, and the extreme combination of heavy curvature and sharp shoulder, combined with the character of the wood, really make this one special.

[Greg Ketell]

Steve, that is really pretty. But I think you need to put quotes around the word "vase". :D

[Allan Ferguson]

It is a winner. Pretty wood and good form.

[paul vechart]

As always Steve a very exceptional piece! I also like your combination of curves and sharp edge.

Paul

[Marc Himes]

Beautifully done Steve. Wonderful form and a wonderful piece of wood. I am glad to see you are getting some time on your lathe. Happy Holidays neighbor.

[Joe Meirhaeghe]

13" & growing !! Great seeing these turnings getting bigger. Over all I like it, however the bottom does seem a little to rounded for this piece. Just a little nit pick but I felt worth noting.

[Eric Gourieux]

Steve,
I agree with others. This is one of your best. Great piece of wood and you did great with the finish.

[jwjerry w kowalski]

Steve,

Beautiful wood and as always your work is exceptional.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Steve that is a beautiful piece and wood. I love the form and finish.

[Harry Robinette]

Steve
You did good the wood is a knock-out,I like the form but there's something about it that's just thrown my eye.I'm going to have to think about this one. I really like the bottom but the transition to the shoulder is were my eye just stops.I know it's just me hope you understand.

[Michelle Rich]

I commented on Wow, but seeing it here with all sides, I like it even more. Adore this

[Steve Schlumpf]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to comment - I appreciate it!

I realize that this form may not work for everyone as it combines curves that are not normally used together on the same piece. Sometimes the experiment works... sometimes it doesn't - it is up to the individual viewer to make that decision for themselves.

Roger - I did nothing extraordinary to hollow this wood. It had a lot of cracks - some of which were very large - but it felt stable and I was not aggressive while hollowing.

Thanks again everyone!

[Curt Fuller]

Wow, what a beauty Steve! I like seeing it from all sides too. The first photo, second row is nice showing even some beautiful character in the wood besides burl. Is this part of the "Rustic" series?

[Steve Schlumpf]

Glad you like it Curt! This particular piece is not part of the primitive series - it's just too fancy of a wood! The primitive series was all about basic form with just minimal finish and sweeping curves. It was fun to do but now I have to move on to something else just for a change of pace. Well, that and all my green wood is frozen into one huge block out in back of the shed!!

[Mike Cruz]

Steve, that's a winner! Regardless of typical curves or whatever, it works and works well.

It is times like this that I wish I could see a pic of the blank before you turned it. Yeah, we all know what a burl looks like. But the orientation of how you had it mounted, and what caused those inclusions in the other side is what I'd love to have seen. Maybe next time...unless you are holding before pics out on us. ;)

[Steve Schlumpf]

Mike - got to my opening post and there is a link to the thread when I roughed out this piece. The photos on orientation are there.

[Mike Cruz]

Duh! Don't know how I missed that. I "thought" I read your entire OP...guess not thoroughly enough. Thanks for posting (and pointing out) that link.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Not a problem Mike ... I know you are a busy guy!! :D

[mike ash]

Ya' done good Steve. Nice shape/wood/photography. Winner all the way around.

[Kathy Marshall]

Very nice Steve! Cool looking wood with lots of character and I like the form. Experimenting is fun and it's nice to see a form that breaks the rules now and then.

[Rich Aldrich]

Nice work, Steve. I really like the wood and the form.

[Robert Henrickson]

I realize that this form may not work for everyone as it combines curves that are not normally used together on the same piece. Sometimes the experiment works... sometimes it doesn't - it is up to the individual viewer to make that decision for themselves.


Great display of the wood grain, and nice form. In my archaeological career, I've handled a lot of vessels with this form which is characteristic of the Uruk culture in the Near East ca 3500-3000 BC and continues into the Early Dynastic to ca 2600 BC.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Thanks Bob - I was hoping you would chime in with some info to identify the form! I did some searches on Persian form but was unsuccessful in finding anything similar. I will check into the Uruk culture.

[charlie knighton]

very nice Steve, love the form...great wood