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When does a bowl become a hollow form?

J

Jim Stoppleworth

Joined
Apr 7, 2005
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Location
Saginaw, Michigan
I'm just wondering----is it just the size of the opening in the top that determines what it is or is it simply what the turner chooses to call it?

an inquiring mind wants to know 🙂
Stoppy
 
Well we call them bowls and hollow vessels but ceramics people call them bowls and jars. What shape does it have to be to fall into the Vase category. Could you call it an Occasional Vessel. Also when does a plate become a platter. How about candlestick vs candleholder.
 
Call it what you will but....................

Stoppy said:
I'm just wondering----is it just the size of the opening in the top that determines what it is or is it simply what the turner chooses to call it?

an inquiring mind wants to know 🙂
Stoppy
Click to expand...

When you can no longer get a straw in the opening to suck out the soup, you have a hollow form. Page 31 chapter 11 of the bowl turners rule book! 😀
 
I have heard that this is intentionally vague by woodturners so as not to inhibit artistic creativity. The main thing is the opening is smaller than the largest diameter of the vessel. Thats about it from what I can gather.
 
Well I guess you could say semi-hollow form. I do a lot of those. For me a hollow form is any vessel, vase, bowl or otherwise that you cannot make the turn or curve with a regular gouge. Now you can take a segmented urn say and turn out the inside before capping with a lid and a small opening. Now what do you have? Whew! GT
 
Sounds like you have a fake hollow form. haha. I would assume you have to clean the inside out THROUGH that opening that is smaller than the largest outside diameter. But actually, who knows?
 
I believe that the term "hollow form" is a broad term that would encompass (OK, shoot me) bowls. My made-up rationale is based upon the idea that the inside of a bowl is "hollowed out".😀 Trying to come up with a "legal" definition can only lead to grief when someone eventually creates something that requires further clarification. The end result might be something that looks a lot like the NFL rule book.😱

Bill
 
Mostly artistic pretense/license. Wooden objects with a use are easily compared to their non-wood analog. After that, you have to come up with something that sounds good. Hollow is descriptive, but a vase or bowl has nothing in the middle either, and all things have form, so that fits as well.

So it's a term that describes nothing by describing everything. Almost like the titles the politicians put on bills they sponsor. Sound and fury.
 
Let me try!

Bowl = Rim open to largest diameter as someone else said

Dish = very shallow bowl, small

Platter is a very shallow bowl, big

Openform = Opening larger than the base but smaller than the maxiumum diameter.

Hollowform = opening equal or smaller than the base and significantly less than the max diameter

Pot = Height equals diameter and opening is equal or close to max diameter, just kind of square in porportion

Vase = significantly taller than the max diameter and opening is equal or close to the diameter of the top of the vessel.

Urn = Vase like in hieght or porportion but fits hollowform defintion

Box = has lid that fits fairly tightly, small

Lidded vessel = openform, pot or vase with a lid, bigger than a box, lid fits rather loosely

Art = A woodturned item priced proudly

Craft = A woodturned item priced modestly

Junk = a turning currently in flight accross the shop, ie. 'Houston we have a problem'

That was fun.
Frank
 
A dammit

You missed one, Frank. A dammit = An almost finished piece in which the inside is suddenly larger than the outside in either width or depth.
 
Since my wife is a potter and we seem to borrow a few terms form the "dirt arts"....what happened to "Bottle"? A cross between a box and a lidded vessel... or jar?

Where will it all end?
 
Frank Kobilsek said:
Hollowform = opening equal or smaller than the base and significantly less than the max diameter
Click to expand...
OK, I am going to complicate your definition of a hollow form. What if there is no base -- does that mean that there can't be a hole at the top to qualify as a hollow form? What if I make a hollow form that is spherical (or oblate, or whatever) and does not have an integral foot -- I'm just thinking outside the sphere. I don't want to constrain artistic expression.🙂

Bill
 
Frank Kobilsek said:
Art = A woodturned item priced proudly

Craft = A woodturned item priced modestly

Junk = a turning currently in flight accross the shop, ie. 'Houston we have a problem'

That was fun.
Frank
Click to expand...

..........and fun to read. Thanks Frank.
My addition:
Funnel = Any turned form with more than one opening, intentional or otherwise.

Jim
 
Stoppy I guess no one really knows and it depends on what your motive is!

Many examples can be seen in the Book "500 Wood Bowls" where the definition of a Bowl is tested to the Extreme.

Pictures here "Titled Bowls" when viewed on the particular Woodturners Web Site are defined as "Pots", "Vessels" or just plain "Art Piece".so even they do not know.

Or is it a case of "they want Bowls so I will call it a Bowl?" I can't wait for a Book called 500 Pots.

Richard
http://www.laymar-crafts.co.uk
 
I'm glad my definitions were enjoyed.

There is another thread going on sales. One of my day jobs is marketing which I describe as 'I write the lies, the salesmen tell them' What we call our work impacts the customer impression/value so since I got into a little gallery this year I have been playing with my descriptions and I think it helps sales. I do local politics too so I get alot of practice describing questionable things in a nice way.

In about 6 months this topic will come up again and I'll be sure to remember Jar, sphere, funnel etc.

Maybe I could provide a service to fellow turners by naming thier pieces. How about you ship me pictures of your piece and oh say a nice exotic blank for my troubles and I'll 'spin' a new orginal name for your piece.

Frank
 
Frank I might take you up on that. I have more trouble naming my art pieces. Sometimes they are started with a name and that's easy, but other times I make something and don't know what to call it so I call it Art.
I really enjoyed your definitions.
 
I'm voting for Frank. I think he could make you believe a crap sandwich tastes good and is good for you.
 
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