Ambrosia Hollow Form Bowl is a Woodturning Style. It requires skill and experience to remove most of the interior wood through a small opening.
Master Woodturner, David Ellsworth invented the Ellsworth Style Hollow Form for woodturning. Previously it was a form that glass blowers and ceramists practiced. David, a student of ceramics thought it would be possible to make this shape with wood. The challenge is that woodturning is a process that removes material. Ceramics and glass adds material and can be manipulated by moving the material around. With a block of wood the turner cannot make the block larger nor is the material fluid. David invented tools that enter a small hole and then remove material from the inside. The Maker cannot see the cutting progress and learning this technique requires practice and patience.
What is a Hollow Form?
The bowl in the above photo is an Ellsworth Style Hollow Form. The opening at the top is smaller than the diameter of the piece. The goal is to make an opening as small as possible. Hook shape tools enter a small hole and the maker directs the tool towards the side walls. The carving process takes place as the wood revolves at high speed. The artist cannot see what is happening. It takes practice and experience not to break through the wall. With constant measuring and a specific sound the maker is aware of progress. The goal is to finish the piece with thin and evenly thick walls.
From Utility to Art Form
This process credited to David is revolutionary and changed woodturning which was producing utilitarian items like bowls to that of creating wood art and sculpture on a lathe. Ellsworth openly shares this technique and it is a known fact that if you ask a woodturner how they make something they will share their knowledge with you. This is not so true in other crafts.
If you like Ambrosia Hollow Form Bowl here is a link to another hollow form piece.
Studio
I produce all of my work in my Montvale, New Jersey, USA studio.