If you love the idea of adding handmade items to your home there are many different options to choose from. Hand turned wood bowls and vessels can be a great choice for a number of reasons. They can be beautiful as well as durable and can be used for a variety of purposes. The key, however, is to buy the right items for your home and lifestyle. Here is a quick buyer's guide to choosing the right hand turned wooden items for your home.
If you aren't sure what is involved in the turning process it is quite simple. A piece of a tree is attached to a lathe which spins the block at varying speeds. When the artisan is creating a design, they use a number of different tools to carve into the wood. Some artisans will use tools to hollow out wood into bowls or vases. Others will turn a piece of wood into a beautiful platter or other item. Then, the wood is smoothed and polished until it is smooth and shiny. It sounds easy but it takes a lot of experience and skill.
Some pieces are made from exotic lumber that you may not have in your area. Other artists may use spalted varieties to create visually stunning pieces that would look beautiful in your home. Spalted wood has a unique appearance that is caused by a fungus that affects a tree. It can cause areas with different coloration or even areas where the wood is missing completely.
You should decide whether you want to serve food in the wooden items or if you want them to simply serve a decorative function. There are many waxes and pastes that can be used to change a piece's color, to bring out it's grain or to add shine or a silky texture. Not all of these can be used if you will serve food from a particular vessel. Asking the person who made the piece should tell you quite quickly if you can use a piece to serve food.
One thing to think about is whether you want a piece to be practical or decorative. This will affect the kind of piece you look for when you shop. A decorative piece may be more delicate or more heavily carved than one that is meant for more practical purposes. A practical piece may also be finished in such a way that it would be more resistant to damage from water or other liquids.
When people begin to collect turned pieces they may be amazed at some of the prices that pieces can bring. Prices for pieces can vary quite a bit. If a well-known craftsman has worked on a piece it will usually come with a higher price tag. Also, some pieces involve a massive amount of work either during the turning stage or to give a particular finish. If you want to find affordable pieces look for ones by lesser-known craftsmen.
Finding pieces to collect may be difficult if you don't know where to look. You might want to start your search at a gallery. There are some galleries that specialize in these types of items. Auctions may have pieces by well-known artists but they are often quite pricey. Asking friends where they purchased pieces that you like can be a good start.
Buying a piece is only the first step. Once you have it in your home you will want to maintain it properly. When you buy a wooden item you should find out how to keep your purchase from drying out or warping. That way it will look just as beautiful even after years of having it in your home.
If you aren't sure what is involved in the turning process it is quite simple. A piece of a tree is attached to a lathe which spins the block at varying speeds. When the artisan is creating a design, they use a number of different tools to carve into the wood. Some artisans will use tools to hollow out wood into bowls or vases. Others will turn a piece of wood into a beautiful platter or other item. Then, the wood is smoothed and polished until it is smooth and shiny. It sounds easy but it takes a lot of experience and skill.
Some pieces are made from exotic lumber that you may not have in your area. Other artists may use spalted varieties to create visually stunning pieces that would look beautiful in your home. Spalted wood has a unique appearance that is caused by a fungus that affects a tree. It can cause areas with different coloration or even areas where the wood is missing completely.
You should decide whether you want to serve food in the wooden items or if you want them to simply serve a decorative function. There are many waxes and pastes that can be used to change a piece's color, to bring out it's grain or to add shine or a silky texture. Not all of these can be used if you will serve food from a particular vessel. Asking the person who made the piece should tell you quite quickly if you can use a piece to serve food.
One thing to think about is whether you want a piece to be practical or decorative. This will affect the kind of piece you look for when you shop. A decorative piece may be more delicate or more heavily carved than one that is meant for more practical purposes. A practical piece may also be finished in such a way that it would be more resistant to damage from water or other liquids.
When people begin to collect turned pieces they may be amazed at some of the prices that pieces can bring. Prices for pieces can vary quite a bit. If a well-known craftsman has worked on a piece it will usually come with a higher price tag. Also, some pieces involve a massive amount of work either during the turning stage or to give a particular finish. If you want to find affordable pieces look for ones by lesser-known craftsmen.
Finding pieces to collect may be difficult if you don't know where to look. You might want to start your search at a gallery. There are some galleries that specialize in these types of items. Auctions may have pieces by well-known artists but they are often quite pricey. Asking friends where they purchased pieces that you like can be a good start.
Buying a piece is only the first step. Once you have it in your home you will want to maintain it properly. When you buy a wooden item you should find out how to keep your purchase from drying out or warping. That way it will look just as beautiful even after years of having it in your home.
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