"Xenia"

[Mark J]

I have been meaning to post pictures of this project for a while.  I actually finished this in Feb.  I was going to do a journal, but as I started to work it up I realized there wasn't much different in my process this time as compared to the last time that I journaled. 

Xenia is the Ancient Greek custom and practice of offering hospitality without hesitation, particularly to strangers. 

So here are some pictures:

 

The base piece is made from Honduran mahogany and the basin is maple.  The finish is Osmo Polyx-Oil satin.  

 

[Bmac]

Wow, marvelous! The base looks so delicate!

[JohnG]

Awesome work. These still make my brain hurt. 

[Mick S]

Fantastic work, Mark. I'm in awe of your turnings.

[wtnhighlander]

That is awesome. I just can't wrap my brain around the steps needed to form that base on a lathe.

[Coop]

Unbelievably beautiful! 

[pkinneb]

Wow!! That is amazing awesome job!

[Chestnut]

I'm looking at this amazed at your skill and how beautiful this turning is. I really hope I'm not calling attention to something you consider a defect. Does the maple cone have a very slight warp to it? It looks like it in the pictures and I love that it highlights the natural element of the wood to me it gives the piece life.

I think the combination of points on the arms and the cone shape compliment each other quite well. How close are you to reaching the limitations of the wood? I can't imagine there is a lot of strength left in arms with end grain and all of the different wood grain directions.

I also couldn't help but thinking "How can i push mark to make something even more complicated". Would it be possible to have arms and legs with them connected with a ring in the center? It'd be like what you have here but mirror about the floor. I suppose at some point you are limited by how big of block you have. I was also thinking abut some sort of S shape that gets rotated around so the legs go out while the arms go in. Just ideas to allow you to try something new and amaze us once again.

[curlyoak]

This is beyond woodworking. It is fine art...The medium is an extra that I enjoy. But it is art.

[Mark J]

First let me say thank you to everyone.  @Chestnut you raise some interesting questions.  

3 hours ago, Chestnut said:

Does the maple cone have a very slight warp to it?

The basin is probably slightly oval/warped, but the appearance is also probably exagerated in that photo due to projection.  While most turners use green wood, I use dry blanks in order to minimize wood movement.  But minimize is the key word.  You can't get rid of it entirely, especially with large blocks of wood, which are never uniform in moisture content from outside to the middle.   As I remove wood, the insides become exposed and dry further.  And keep in mind that I tend to turn for short sessions so it takes me several days to complete a section, plenty of time for some water molecules to jump ship.  Once a piece is made there is also some seasonal movement.  As you all know, it's just life with wood.  

3 hours ago, Chestnut said:

the combination of points on the arms and the cone shape compliment each other quite well

I had given some thought to getting tips of the pillar to point at the tip of the basin, but I didn't like the idea when sketched and there woud have been the technical challenge of getting the tip position just right.  I agree with you that the way it came out seems to work.  When I submitted the piece for review I described it as "Carried on four pillars of wind, a generous dish is offered without effort or reservation".  

On 6/24/2021 at 11:57 AM, Bmac said:

The base looks so delicate!

3 hours ago, Chestnut said:

How close are you to reaching the limitations of the wood? I can't imagine there is a lot of strength left in arms with end grain and all of the different wood grain directions.

An interesting question.  I don't know and I certainly don't want to find out by direct demonstration.  The grain direction is diagonal in each of the pillars.  My target wall thickness is 1/4", which is stronnger than you might think, but still...  You can certainly pick up the base by one pillar, but I do not think that you could fill the basin of this piece with, say marbles, and expect the base to hold it up for very long.  I never intended for the piece to be used to hold anything, but I supose if one were determined one could fill it mostly with styrofoam then a thin layer of something light.

3 hours ago, Chestnut said:

"How can i push mark to make something even more complicated"

That has me chuckling.  Remember it was one of your comments that got me started making these two component pieces.  I do sketch out some ideas that are probably similar to what you're suggesting.  Sometimes these just don't work for geometric/practical reasons.  Sometimes I don't like the look.  Others are awaiting further exploration.  But I am always happy to hear suggestions, becuase you never know which question, idea or sketch will lead to the next design.