Just the ticket
Wax finish
Sycamore

I began making this piece with the intention that, by entering it in a competition at Alexandra Palace, it would earn me two free tickets to the International Woodworking Exhibition. However, like Topsy ‘it growed’, and to my delight it ended up earning me the first prize in that competition.

It has since been purchased for inclusion in The Daniel Collection.

Approx 30cm x 30cm (12in x 12in)

Sold

Urchin
Oil finish

This was inspired by the Singapore balls I make (below). There are thirty two spikes set into the ball like the spines of a sea urchin, although I took the precaution of rounding the ends. It’s an attractive object and, although I didn’t have it in mind when I made it, it could be used to display rings over the spines.

Ball 7cm dia with spines 5cm long
(2¾in & 2in)

£70

Hermit
Wax finish.
Holly

Still exploring the theme which lead to ‘Just the ticket’ (above) I created this piece. I rather like the juxtaposition of the pointed corners and the curved points of the rings.

12cm x 12cm x 17cm (diagonal)
(4¾in x 4¾in x 6¾in)

It has recently been purchased for inclusion in The Daniel Collection.

Sold

Gavel and Block
Wax finish

The first one of these I made for a neighbour, and from time to time someone asks me to make another one. The one on the left is oak, that on the right is laburnum.

gavel head 5.5cm dia x 9.5cm long
(2¼in x 3¾in) Other parts in proportion.

£45 gavel & block

Space to Think
wax finish
Sycamore

This piece is currently ‘on tour’ with the Association of Woodturners of Great Britain, and will remain with them until August 2008. It was chosen, along with others, at the AWGB seminar at Loughborough University.

25cm diameter (10in)

(The piece has now been returned and is available for sale)

£300

Apples and...
Wax finish.

Apple sized

I make apples in a wide variety of woods. Among those shown here are Yew, Olive Ash, Elm, Sycamore, Walnut and Spalted Beech. Apples and other fruit make the perfect small gift.

£10 each

...other fruit
Wax finish.

Approximately life sized

Someone asked me recently if I would make them some other fruit - plums, cherries etc. This is the outcome. I couldn’t find a convincingly orange timber so the orange is made of sycamore which was then stained. However, the lemon is made from pau amerello, the plums are purpleheart and the cherries padauk, all showing their natural colours. The apple in the background is stained sycamore, and was an experiment which worked rather well, I thought.

£10 per item

Singapore Balls
Wax finish

Singapore balls have no practical use, but are fascinating 'executive toys'. The dark reddish coloured ones here are made from cocobolo and the pale one is hawthorn. When the ball is tossed in the air, or rolled along the ground, all the spikes emerge at the same time. But when you catch it in your hand the spikes retract and inflict no pain. Its like a gentle mediaeval mace. The perfect gift for the wood lover who has everything.

6cm dia
(2½in)

£65

Earring Stands
Wax finish.

These particular examples are made of birch plywood and oak, with an Ebony or Moabi spire. There are 24 holes around the rim for storing earrings. Finger rings can be popped over the spire, and smaller bits and pieces can be placed in the tray on the base.

9cm dia x 18cm
(3½in x 7in)
Overall sizes may vary slightly but the gap between top and bottom remains the same at 10cm (4in) to allow room for long earrings.

£20
Sometimes I make them with captive rings around the stem, and charge a little extra for these.

Standing Circles
Wax finish.
Oak & Sycamore

A tall chalice-like piece which reminded me of stone circles such as Stonehenge.

28cm tall x 16cm (ring diameter)
(11in x 6¼in) 

£200

Married Quarters
Oil & Wax finish
Roupala lacewood & Holly

I have called this an ‘interactive’ piece because it can be rearranged to create different effects, rather than simply viewed from a single perspective. The interlocked rings marry the pieces together.

7.5cm x 7.5cm joined by interlocked 12cm rings
(3in x 3in x 4¾in)


£150

Odd shaped balls
Wax finish
Sycamore

I was recently commissioned to make a Rugby ball. I’d never made one before, but the customer was pleased with the result and commented that he’d “bought one before, but it’s not as good as this”. Well, that suits me, too.

Ball 15cm tall x 10cm maximum diameter, on contrasting wood stand
(6in x 4in)

£55