Design advice on a vase foot

[Brian Kent]

This is a roughed out vase on a faceplate. I would like your recommendations on whether to include a foot. If so, how big?

Thanks all. One picture is after 80 grit sanding, the other has some dewaxed shellac soaked in for the softer inclusion areas.

It is very dry avocado.

[Dennis Ford]

My vote is for no foot.
The vase is very nice, I like the orientation that you used.

[Wally Dickerman]

No foot...bottom about 1/3 the widest dia. of the vessel.

[Chip Sutherland]

no foot. Wally's comment is spot on. Tuck the edge under, too.

[Mel Fulks]

Well ,I am not a turner. Do look at all the projects. As I said once before many of these vases seem precarious with too small bases. With the unbalanced top weight that would seem to be more true for this piece. I can't help wondering if the artists in turning have decidedly different tastes than potential buyers,I suggest asking for opinions from some non turners and comparing votes.

[Brian Kent]

Mel, aside from anyone else's comments, what should I do with the foot on this one?

[Fred Belknap]

Brian I happen to think something like that needs a base to at least give it the appearance of of stability. It don't need to be a large base but like Wally said about the 1/3 of top diameter but I would make it look like a base.

[Mel Fulks]

From what I can make out in photo I wouldn't want it any smaller than it is now and think its fine the way it is .There might be some slight refinement needed that I just can't see. It doesn't hurt to think like a buyer,with carpeting on all the floors and all the shelves already full a potential buyer might conclude they literally don't have a safe surface to display it.And a table that might get jostled probably wouldn't do with a small base.

[Michael Stafford]

When it is taken off the lathe the foot will make it appear heavy. The piece would look better without a foot. Stability is not much of an issue if the bottom is turned to 1/3 or the maximum diameter. This is an art piece and a foot will make it look cumbersome.

Your piece so you do as you see fit.

[Mel Fulks]

Wood turning and silver smithing don't have a lot in common ,but they both use the urn form .The most delicate urn form is what most of us call "Federal",I can't find ANY silver urns with a base that isn't bigger than one third of largest diameter.

[Brian Kent]

I asked my non-woodturning friends on Facebook.
7 comments say footless, 4 say footed.
I have another piece of wood, same grain directions and proportions, though slightly smaller. I may finish one with and one without.
I can convince myself either way.

[Brian Kent]

Here's what I ended up with last night. I curved the bottoom in as if it had no foot, then included a very low pedestal for stability. I am happy with the result.

[Thomas Canfield]

Looks good and stable. How does it feel when you rock it or bump the table? I agree with your choice.

[ron david]

Here's what I ended up with last night. I curved the bottoom in as if it had no foot, then included a very low pedestal for stability. I am happy with the result.

turning is all about learning and doing. you have to be able to recognize forms . there are various ways to and there are ways not to pay attention to forms and usually friends and those close to you are not them. one is that they more than likely know less about it than you and they will always tell you how nice it is so that they won't hurt your feelings and encourage you. a set of false impressions.
most bowl or vase forms that woodturners copy org are derived from oriental ceramics. I would seriously look at the vessels of the Japanese tea ceremony. Korean and Chinese ceramics.
for a quick study of the basic form that you are using is to look at the turned objects of David Ellsworth; his earlier stuff. David also has an MFA which also helps
I am going to offer a little trick on how to look at your current piece. take and print the above images 1,2 an3. then cut off your base completely and the appraise it
ron

[Mel Fulks]

Agree with Thomas,looks good. And ,yeah,let us know what you think of stability.

[Brian Kent]

Thomas, I don't know what happens when I bump the table because I have never built a table that can vibrate.:)

Ron, thank you for the Tea Ceremony recommendations. I will look.

I turned the other piece cut from right next to this one. No foot. I like them both. Artistically, I think no foot is nice, but I would only put it on a very stable shelf.

My future choices will depend on the wood, my mood, and the purpose of the piece. Thank you all for your input from different perspectives. That is exactly what I was hoping for.