Big Leaf Burl Goblet

Using the burl like this makes for a very unique design. Very nice.

Dave
What an unusual and exciting piece of art -- well done.
Alan

All the separate elements of your goblet are very well done, Dave.
However, IMO, the "visual balance" is off. If you reversed the stem I think that would be an improvement (of course, a slight modification at the cup would be necessary). Just my 2¢.

Tom Gall said:

All the separate elements of your goblet are very well done, Dave.
However, IMO, the "visual balance" is off. If you reversed the stem I think that would be an improvement (of course, a slight modification at the cup would be necessary). Just my 2¢.

Click to expand...

I can see that.
I've done stems both ways and go back and forth about which I like better...

Tom Gall said:

All the separate elements of your goblet are very well done, Dave.
However, IMO, the "visual balance" is off. If you reversed the stem I think that would be an improvement (of course, a slight modification at the cup would be necessary). Just my 2¢.

Click to expand...

When I first saw Dave's goblet, the upsidedowniness occurred to me, upon reflection, I wondered if I was being trapped by the natural shape we assume all finials take. ie. narrow part to the top? Since this isn't a finial in the strictest sense (it doesn't end anything but rather connects two segments), I looked for another reason why the 'balance' might be off and I really couldn't find any - all the elements fit and seemed cohesive once I put the "normal finial" aside.

Alan Hunt said:

When I first saw Dave's goblet, the upsidedowniness occurred to me, upon reflection, I wondered if I was being trapped by the natural shape we assume all finials take. ie. narrow part to the top? Since this isn't a finial in the strictest sense (it doesn't end anything but rather connects two segments), I looked for another reason why the 'balance' might be off and I really couldn't find any - all the elements fit and seemed cohesive once I put the "normal finial" aside.

Click to expand...

To be honest, the main reason the stem ended up this way is because of the natural surface of the base. Most of my goblet stems are flared at both top and bottom to transition into the curves of the bowl and base.

For this one, I didn't want to cut any sort of flat spot on the base where I could attach a flared stem, so the stem just tapers into the base (or arrises out like the points of the burl cap, depending on if you're a top-down or bottom-up sort of person).

Sometimes the practical overrides my considerations about artistic-ness. Sometimes it works out.

I'm glad if I at least made a few of us think a bit.

Alan Hunt said:

When I first saw Dave's goblet, the upsidedowniness occurred to me, upon reflection, I wondered if I was being trapped by the natural shape we assume all finials take. ie. narrow part to the top? Since this isn't a finial in the strictest sense (it doesn't end anything but rather connects two segments), I looked for another reason why the 'balance' might be off and I really couldn't find any - all the elements fit and seemed cohesive once I put the "normal finial" aside.

Click to expand...

Depends on your assumptions. To me there is a difference between a "stem" and a "finial". A finial has a free end - whether it is on the top (typical) or hanging free on the bottom (ornament). A stem connects two parts - separate or integrated. Dave called it a "stem".

Tom Gall said:

Depends on your assumptions. To me there is a difference between a "stem" and a "finial". A finial has a free end - whether it is on the top (typical) or hanging free on the bottom (ornament). A stem connects two parts - separate or integrated. Dave called it a "stem".

Click to expand...

Good points - when I consulted and was called in to solve problems the FIRST thing I did was determine what the "assumptions" were.