Thread: My first "Arty" bowl with finials

I’ve made heaps of bowls over the years, but I have never done any arty type ones, nor any finials. So after getting some inspiration from Cindy Drozda from the USA and our own TTIT I decided to branch out and give it a go.

I started with a piece of Budgeroo (Lysicarpus angustifolius) and turned tennons on the top and bottom for holds for my Vicmark jaws. Then using the Bowl Saver I cut out what was to become the lid. I placed it in a bucket weighted down and cast black tinted resin around the outside. While that was setting I turned the main body of the bowl inside and out.

Next was shaping the side of the lid and turning the resin to be a “tight fit” to the main body holding it by the tennon. I also finished the base of the lid and put in a small recess to hold it when finish turning the top of the lid, and to put my name etc into.

I then placed the lid in the main bowl, and holding it there with the tailstock, I turned the final shape of the top of the bowl and lid at the same time to ensure the lid was a perfect fit shape wise. Holding the lid by the recess, I removed the tennon, cut a recess, then and glued in a piece of Ebony (Diospyros ferrea) for the finial.

Before turning the finial, I turned each of legs out of Ebony trying to match the bowl and each other, they took 2-3 hours each. I took a photo at that stage, they are not the same, but not bad for my first attempt at finial legs. I then finished the finial and the lid top to suit the legs. I also sanded the edge of the lid so it was an easy suction fit. The finishing touch was cutting short lengths of ¼” stainless steel rod and drilling holes so it could all be joined together with epoxy.

The finished bowl is 190mm dia x 45mm deep with a 75mm finial. The finial and legs are max 20mm dia and the legs 120mm long. I’m pretty happy with it.

Cheers

ps The legs are all vertical and straight, it's just the photo that makes them look out