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Turning of the Week November 14, 2022

Donna Banfield

Donna Banfield

TOTW Team
Joined
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Location
Derry, NH
This box, "Basketweave Pattern Box" by Scott Barrett on his Holtzapffel lathe is my choice for turning of the week for the week of November 14, 2022.

This box represents several things: first, it is a well-turned box. The sections between the lid and box are balanced proportionately to be pleasing to the human eye. Second, it is made using a beautiful material, that finishes well. Last, it was turned on a lathe that is historically relevant to our history of making using a lathe, which makes the patterns that Scott made on this box possible. Using an ornamental lathe takes painstakingly careful planning and skill.

The Holtzapffel lathe was a machine that was used and enjoyed only by the wealthiest of men (and at that time, never women). Scott's knowledge of the provenance of this lathe only makes this box particularly special. Note, that in another post, Scott turned three boxes, and posted those to the photo gallery. I encourage everyone to view those.

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Very nice piece. I confess, I didn't know what a Holtzapffel was or the history of them and ornamental turning so I spent some time studying and learning. You're right, it takes a lot of careful planning and work to produce the details.
 
Ed French said:
Not true. Queen Victoria as well as other aristocratic women did ornamental turning.
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Donna Banfield said:
Not true. Queen Victoria as well as other aristocratic women did ornamental turning.
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Hey how come your reply is not thrown out ?????

My reply was thrown out, where I said that I did not agree with Banfield's statement and I added 2 pictures as well of women turning some 7 hundred and more years ago, here are the pictures and I'm not going to add the rest of the information, like who all was turning wood at that time.

The person who took it down gave this initial ?, not a name, and said it took away from the box that was shown 😕

Nun turning on a pole lathe.jpg turning on a pole lathe.jpg
 
Leo Van Der Loo said:
Hey how come your reply is not thrown out ?????

My reply was thrown out, where I said that I did not agree with Banfield's statement and I added 2 pictures as well of women turning some 7 hundred and more years ago, here are the pictures and I'm not going to add the rest of the information, like who all was turning wood at that time.

The person who took it down gave this initial ?, not a name, and said it took away from the box that was shown 😕

View attachment 48067 View attachment 48069
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I think pole lathe turning and ornamental turning are rather different types and eras. However, women were known to have turned using Holtzapffel lathes too. And two particularly accomplished women were: Mary Isabella Oliver-Gascoigne (1810-1891) who also wrote the book "Handbook of Turning" published in 1842, and Lady Gertrude Crawford (1868-1937) who won several medals for her turnings in the early 20th c. You can find more information about them at: https://ornamentalturning.net/ in the section dedicated to "Turners of the Victorian Era."
 
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