Stack Laminated Mahogany Bowl

Copied Rude Osolnik, Stack Laminated Mahogany Bowl, 1990, mahogany, 11 3418 58 in. diam (29.847.2 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist and Connell Gallery in loving memory of Daphne Francis Osolnik, 1999.105

Artwork Details

Title
Stack Laminated Mahogany Bowl
Artist
Date
1990
Dimensions
11 3418 58 in. diam (29.847.2 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the artist and Connell Gallery in loving memory of Daphne Francis Osolnik
Mediums Description
mahogany
Classifications
Object Number
1999.105

Artwork Description

Like many of Rude Osolnik's pieces, Stack Laminated Mahogany Bowl is made from discarded scraps of wood. He salvaged exotic woods, like mahogany, from veneer mills that cut logs in Africa, Central America, or Asia. To reduce the amount of waste that typically results from more traditional woodturning techniques, Osolnik cut large, concentric circles from each plank. He then cut the circle into rings and removed the rings, "donut-style," pulling out the smaller rings from inside larger ones. Next, he matched up the rings and laminated them together to create the shape before placing the entire form on the lathe. The resulting bowls are perfectly proportioned, as Osolnik believed that form should always be the focal point of a piece.