Turners of the Information Age

Ornamental Turning in the Information Age (1971 – present)

The lathe, no longer associated with mechanized factory production, became a creative tool for the hobbyists and studio turner. Contemporary pioneers of common woodturning such as Prestini, Stocksdale, Lindquist and Osolnik inspired a new generation of woodturners which emerged in the 1970s. In 1976, the first woodturning conference in the U.S. was held. That same year, Fine Woodworking published an article featuring Frank Knox which introduced ornamental turning to the entire woodworking community. Perhaps it was no coincidence that reprints of Holtzapffel's books also became available in 1976.

The result was an explosion of interest in ornamental turning. It inspired Lawler to produce a series of modern ornamental turning lathes beginning in 1985. That same year, the Wood Turning Center and the American Association of Woodturners were both formed, and modern lathe equipment and tools specific to the needs of woodturners became increasingly available. In 1986, Knox published Ornamental Turnery, an enticing book complete with color photographs and an approachable style introducing the craft of ornamental turning. Four years later, Walshaw published Ornamental Turning, which provided further stimulus for the surge of popularity that ornamental turning enjoyed.

The Digital Revolution – Ornamental turning has grown tremendously in the past ten years due to the popularity of the Internet. It has connected beginners with masters through global online discussion groups and private email communication. It has greatly facilitated locating and purchasing ornamental turning machines and apparatus through eBay and other auction sites. It has made classic books on the craft instantly available and searchable through Google Books. It has spawned websites detailing every aspect of ornamental turning and enabled enthusiasts and practitioners to share photos of their work, process, tools, machines, and more.

Ornamental Turners International formed in 1995, and provided a network for ornamental turning in the U.S. which has recently grown to more than 175 members. The Society of Ornamental Turners in England continues to grow with over 350 members worldwide. In 2007, for the first time, an inexpensive kit to quickly and easily build a tabletop rose engine was made available. The brainchild of Paul Fletcher, and produced by Jon Magill and Bonnie Klein, this put within reach of anyone interested the ability to create decorative items using the same techniques of more than 400 years ago.

• Frank Knox
• Warren Green Ogden, Jr.
• T. D. Walshaw
• Roger Davies
• Theo Fabergé
• Dale Chase