Red Oak Hollow

This picture of three nested bowls shows the result of what can be made from a special tree which blows down in a storm. On September 18, 2003, a large branch from a maple tree at the back corner of the Second Street School, a one-room schoolhouse in Waterford, VA, fell across the fence. I have written about this event in another article on this web site available in the article entitled Historical Preservation. At the time I collected the wood from that tree, I heard of a proposed auction for the Waterford Foundation to be held at some unspecified future time, perhaps in a year or so from then. I used a large piece of that branch, cored out two bowls from the center of that piece, and then rough-shaped all three pieces and set them aside to dry.

These three images show what became of the three rough-turned bowls which sat in my basement drying for over a year. This large bowl is 17" across the top and the rim is 6" high.

The middle bowl presented a bit of a problem when I put it back on the lathe to finish it up. When I cored out that middle bowl, the bottom of the piece was too thin to accommodate the regular size base I like to use on the bowl, so I attached a piece of very nice walnut to the base of the bowl and shaped it in an attractive manner for the foot of the bowl. Although this photograph doesn't show the walnut foot, it makes an appropriate accent to the piece. This bowl is 10 1/2" across the top and stands 3" high at the rim.

The final piece of this puzzle, although not much of a puzzle if you start with the large bowl, then the middle size one, and finally the small one, is this bowl. Measuring 7" across the top and standing 2" high, this bowl is the final piece for this set.

Now, I mentioned that I had donated these bowls to the Waterford Foundation for their Country Auction. That auction should be awesome as they have had many donations of both high quality crafts as well as significant antiques from folks in the area who strongly believe in the Waterford Foundation vision of preserving the village and preventing encroachment by developers. That auction will be on Sunday afternoon, the 22nd of May at the Old School. I certainly intend on going and hope that you will also as this auction appears that it will be a highlight of the year for the Foundation. Let me refer you to the Waterford Foundation web site for more information about the auction. Click on the word "More..." under the picture of the 29 pieces of Irish Belleek which will be part of the auction.