Maple Vessel

Phil Brown, Maple Vessel, 1995, turned, sanded, and varnished maple, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Renwick Acquisitions Fund, 1995.61
Copied Phil Brown, Maple Vessel, 1995, turned, sanded, and varnished maple, 7 1⁄4 x 17 1⁄8 in. (18.5 x 43.5 cm) diam., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Renwick Acquisitions Fund, 1995.61

Artwork Details

Title
Maple Vessel
Artist
Date
1995
Location
Dimensions
7 1⁄4 x 17 1⁄8 in. (18.5 x 43.5 cm) diam.
Credit Line
Museum purchase through the Renwick Acquisitions Fund
Mediums
Mediums Description
turned, sanded, and varnished maple
Classifications
Object Number
1995.61
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1995.61

Artwork Description

Phil Brown typically gives his flared bowls a narrow base to enhance the feeling of lightness and delicacy, as seen in Maple Vessel. To create his pieces, he roughly cuts the shape from a tree trunk or branch. After the wood dries out, he applies a layer of epoxy paint to harden weaker areas and to treat parts of the wood that might contain fungus. Brown then uses a lathe to cut away at the form until it reaches the desired thinness and shape, finishing the piece with varying grades of sandpaper to create a very smooth surface. Brown remembers where and when he found every piece of wood that he turns into a vessel, and notes the wood's source location on the bottom of each of his pieces.