George Lailey commemorative bowls

15 December 2008 was exactly fifty years since the 'last bowlturner' George Lailey died aged 89. I felt I should mark the occasion with something special so I made this nesting set of bowls in spalted beech.

These are cut from one block of wood, one from inside the next, using special curved tools which I make myself. A big nest like this - the largest bowl is just over seventeen inches in diameter - starts with such a large block of wood it is difficult to lift it onto the lathe.

Not only does this make very efficient use of the wood, but it also means the grain pattern runs through the bowls making a very special matching set.

They will take around two months to dry properly then they will be for sale in the gallery. In the mean time you can watch a video of them being made: