TOURBILLON
W 64cm x D 64cm x H 72cm
Statement hallway or centrepiece display table
Tourbillon \ French: noun \ toor-bee-yon
A vortex, especially of a whirlwind or whirlpool.
Scorched and burnished
The base texture is blow-torched, scrubbed, burnished and oiled, giving a patinated bronze-like finish, revealing caramel tones from the pale sycamore beneath
Solid sycamore
The entire piece is made from stacked discs of solid sycamore wood. The contrast betwen the pale top and the dark base comes entirely from the surface finish treatment
Spiral carving
Texture is carved in a spiral pattern, swirling from the underside of the top down to a more vertical arrangement as it reaches the ground
The texture carved into the table top is gentler, more subtle and incredibly tactile, but still reflects the spiral of the vortex whorling away beneath. The chosen finish of white oils and waxes helps to reinforce this surface calm.
Tourbillon is a dynamic, expressive and tactile piece, understated in its colouring but bold enough in form and movement to take centre stage in a grand hallway or reception space.
The carved texture of the base wraps around the tapering form, transitioning seamlessly from the conical base to the underside of the table top in a vortex-like form. A subtler texture on the silky pale top echoes the maelstrom beneath but presents a much calmer character.
Under certain lights the heavy, dark texture of the base is reminiscent of patinated cast bronze, whilst the pale creamy white top speaks more of ceramic or stone. The extreme contrasts between the colours and textures showcase the versatility of the relatively humble sycamore wood, and demonstrate a sample of the range of effects possible through combinations of simple carving, burning and basic finishing techniques.
Further experimentation with different patterns, materials and scale are ongoing in the studio.