Description

This is the largest piece that I have hollowed to date. The log had many fractures before I started turning it. I figured that I had two choices at the start; 1, Make it into firewood or 2 turn it and hope for the best.
I decided to turn it across the grain which would expose the annual rings and the wood was semi dry which caused it to distort as I turned it.
I have recently started to use my version of the Japanese art of Kintsugi, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintsugi) which embraces imperfections in ceramics and porcelain vessels, in my woodturnings where a wooden piece is damaged or broken so I planned to do this if the piece held together.
As I hollowed it I filled the cracks with epoxy resin adhesive and then, when it was fully turned and sanded, I applied 22ct gold leaf along the length of the cracks. (I had previously mixed gold powder into epoxy resin and filled cracks with that but I have yet to find a gold powder that looks like gold when it is finished).
Some of the cracks started to spread as I turned it so I put two large hose clips around it to hold it together as I hollowed it out.
As I hollowed deeper into it I also epoxied fine aluminium mesh across the major cracks to hold them together and also in under the rim to prevent it breaking off.
I was much relieved when I finished the hollowing that it held together.
Looking at it now I made the correct choice.
The interior is painted with black gesso.
Finish:
22ct gold leaf; Acrylic sanding sealer; Acrylic satin lacquer; Microcrystalline wax.