Ornamental Turning
The online resource for "OT" enthusiasts
Related topics
Fabergé Exhibitions
- The Hermitage (Amsterdam, Netherlands). October 13, 2007 through May 5, 2008. "Art Nouveau during the Reign of the Last Tsars." Major works included in this venue are by Gallé, the Daum brothers, Lalique and 12 objects by Fabergé.
- Cleveland Museum of Art (Cleveland, OH). October, 2008. Moves to San Francisco in January 2009. "Artistic Luxury: Fabergé - Tiffany - Lalique" is a comparative study of three of the greatest jewelry and luxury goods designers at the turn of the 20th century.
- Fabergé Museum in the Hermitage Museum (St. Petersburg, Russia). Scheduled opening Fall 2008.
- The Royal Collection of Queen Elizabeth II (London, England). Objects from permanent collection are shown from time to time. Check for schedule.
- The Link of Times Foundation Fabergé Collection (USA). Objects from permanent collection are shown from time to time. Check for schedule.
Fabergé in the News
The Fabergé Research Site publishes a monthly newsletter detailing current exhibitions and related news. Archives of past newsletters are also available online.
Search
Find what you're looking for!
News Archive
OTI Releases Ornamental Turning DVD
OTI is giving away an instructional ornamental turning DVD with new memberships. The DVD conains two presentations from the bi-annual symposium held in Portsmouth, NH in 2006: "Eccentric Cutting Frames" by John Edwards, and "Some Materials for Ornamental Turning" by Jon Sauer. Join the OTI
New Portable Rose Engine unveiled at AAW
A new lightweight portable rose engine machine by Mandala Rose Works was debuted at the AAW Symposium June 26-28, 2009 in Albuquerque, NM. It features all aluminum construction with 12 rosettes, rocking, pumping, phasing, variable speed motor drive, and more! Visit www.mandalaroseworks.com
Sauer's Spinner Graces Cover of AAW Spindle Exhibit
Jon Sauer's ornamental turned spinning top was chosen as the cover image for The Spindle show catalog. This special gallery exhibit represented the work of more than 50 invited woodturners which were displayed and auctioned at the AAW Symposium June 26-28, 2009 in Albuquerque, NM.
Articles and Letters from English Mechanic on DVD
Now available on searchable DVD, the complete set of articles and letters related to ornamental turning that appeared in the “English Mechanic” from 1865 to 1927. Articles were often written in serial form and are a very useful supplement to other books on the topic. Letters illuminate an important time in ornamental turning history, giving insight into an active community of practitioners (such as Holtzapffel, Evans, Lukin, Hartley, Goyen, Plant, Grace, and others) during the peak of OT popularity and growth. Expertly produced and highly recommended. Visit www.englishmechanic.com
Beall Announces Pen Wizard OT Lathe
The new Beall "Pen Wizard" is a stand-alone jig for creating various OT-style wave, spiral, or geometric patterns and textures on straight, concave or convex pen and pencil barrels. You'll need a standard wood lathe, a rotary tool with cutters, and a 1/4"-28tpi threaded pen mandrel. Visit Pen Wizard website
The Catalog of Holtzapffel Lathes Launches Website
Holtzapffel.org is dedicated to the renowned 19th C. maker of ornamental turning equipment. It provides the world’s most comprehensive collection of information about the Holtzapffel family, their firm, and the lathes they produced. The centerpiece of the site is The Catalog of Holtzapffel Lathes, which details the provenance and specifications of 2,557 Holtzapffel lathes. You'll also find a complete Holtzapffel history, including biographies, genealogy, timeline of notable dates, factory addresses, factory signatures, and more. Visit holtzapffel.org
The Greatest Collection of Ornamental Turned Ivory Artifacts in the World
Johannes Volmer suggests, "Maybe some of today's ornamental turning enthusiasts would be interested to visit my native town Dresden and its famous galleries and museums—and the Green Vault." The Historical Green Vault (Historisches Gruenes Gewoelbe) was the treasure chamber of the Saxon Electors and Kings in the residence palace of Dresden. The palace was re-opened in September 2006 after the reconstruction and restoration of the old halls and rooms, having been completely burned out and destroyed by the bomb raid of the allied air forces in February 1945 (which Volmer had the chance to survive as a Dresden boy of 15). Today, they exhibit an impressive collection of more than than 100 turned ivory pieces of all kinds, some dating back to the early 17th century.
"The Modern Rose" Turns a Jet Mini Lathe into a Rose Engine
"The Modern Rose" had its world debut at the AAW Symposium in Richmond, Va. June 20-22, 2008. This bolt-on accessory enables a Jet mini lathe to do many of the things a rose engine is known for. It bolts on to the lathe in about an hour yet preserves conventional fixed high-speed operation. Various accessories are planned allowing the ability to turn ovals, cut threads, create a barley twist, and follow a template. Visit The Modern Rose Website
Article and Video on How to Make OT Polychromatic Patterns
"Cutting Through the Layers" by Jon Magill in the summer issue of American Woodturner describes how to use OT techniques to precisely cut through multiple contrasting layers of wood to produce polychromatic patterns. The video "Woodturning Embellishments with Laminated Acrylic" by Ed Davidson demonstrates a similar technique. More info
Nova OT Visualizer Software Now Available
Teknatool is now offering software that illustrates how certain OT patterns will look. Created by James Staley, Nova OT Visualizer can help you visualize barleycorn and other patterns by entering parameters such as the diameter of the work, number of cuts, skipped cuts, and cutter diameter. The software is intended to aid in working with the Teknatool Nova Ornamental Turner tool. Requires Microsoft Excel. Trial version available. More info
John Edwards Launches Ornamental Turning Website
Former president of the Society of Ornamental Turners, John Edwards has launched a new website dedicated to ornamental turning from the viewpoint of a practitioner. The site contains a gallery of ornamentally turned items made by the author, information about the craft of ornamental turning, a treatise on ornamental turning lathes and equipment, advice on ornamental turning techniques, a list of useful books, a catalogue of items for sale and wanted, plus links to other websites of interest to ornamental turners. View Edwards' site
Johannes Volmer Announces Improved Oval Indexer
Johannes Volmer has published an article detailing a new indexer for ornamenting oval turned objects. It is a elegantly simple mechanism, its parts are easily made of sheet metal, and the division accuracy is very high. The indexer can be applied to a traditional elliptical chuck, Steinert's oval turning device, Vicmarc's oval turning device and others.
American Woodturner Features Ornamental Turning
The Spring 2008 issue of American Woodturner, the journal of the American Association of Woodturners, features several articles on ornamental turning. "The Cutting Edge of OT" by Jon Magill details the cutters and cutting frames used in ornamental turning. "Build an Overhead Drive" by Jon Magill details the construction of a basic overhead drive for cutting frames and drilling spindles. "Rose-Engines & Kings" is a brief overview of the recent ornamental turning exhibit at the Wood Turning Center in Philadelphia, PA. All of the articles are illustrated with numerous color photos. American Woodturner is sent to all members of the AAW and is also readily available at bookstores throughout the U.S. Join the American Association of Woodturners
Founding member of OTI, Ted Crom, died at age 87
Ted Crom became an esteemed horologist and wrote many books and articles on the subject, with a particular interest in the tools used to manufacture clocks and watches. He was an honorary Doctor of Engineering at the University of Maryland, a Silver Star Fellow of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, a British Horological Institute Fellow, a Barrett Silver Medal awardee, and was a member of numerous horological associations worldwide. Ted had a great love for ornamental turning and in 1989 organized a meeting of ornamental turners at the Smithsonian Institute, which became the start of Ornamental Turners International. As a founding member and president, he later organized meetings of the OTI in Oil City PA, Rochester NY, Kansas City MO, Portsmouth NH, Kennebunkport ME, and at his home in Hawthorne FL. He had a passion for collecting watches, clocks, horological tools, early trade catalogs, books, and ornamental turning equipment.
Long-time OTI member Daniel McDonald died
Originally from Scotland, McDonald lived in Canada where his lifelong hobby of woodworking led him to ornamental turning. He was both a woodworker and metalworker, making the tools needed to create his artwork. He was especially accomplished at turning complex geometric shapes contained within spheres and ellipses as well as detailed fretwork and other intricate designs.
The Society of Ornamental Turners Annual General Meeting
Hillingdon, Middlesex, UK – November 10, 2007
The annual general meeting of the Society of Ornamental Turners is always a friendly and enjoyable gathering with usually more than 100 members attending from the UK and overseas. In addition to the formal business meeting, it includes a lecture, competition awards, and auction. This year's auction features over 250 lots!
Historic Reunification Of Fabergé
Fabergé Ltd announces the historic reunification of the Fabergé brand with the direct descendants of the nineteenth century founder of the House of Fabergé. In January 2007, an investor group Fabergé Ltd. acquired Unilever’s worldwide portfolio of Fabergé trademarks, licences and associated rights with the intent that all future development of the Fabergé name reflects the original heritage of excellence in creativity, design and craftsmanship. Sarah Fabergé (great-granddaughter Peter Carl Fabergé) said "This constitutes the reunification of the House of Fabergé and a new chapter in its history. My father, Theo Fabergé, grandson of Peter Carl Fabergé, passed away on August 20th, 2007. It is poignant that, only days before he died, both he and I entered into the arrangements reuniting the family and the Fabergé name."
Rothschild Fabergé Egg Found – To Be Sold at Christies
Christie’s announces that they will offer at auction a remarkable discovery – The Rothschild Fabergé Egg. Previously unrecorded and an addition to no more than 12 documented examples known to have been made to Imperial standards for anyone other than the Russian Imperial Family, this exceptional work of craftsmanship is expected to realise £6 million to £9 million ($12 to $18 million) and potentially establish a new world record price for a Russian object. The Rothschild Fabergé Egg will be offered at the auction of Russian Works of Art sale on November 28, 2007.
Lindow-White Machine Works taking orders for new rose engine lathes
After their first run of new rose engine machines sold out in November 2006, Lindow-White is now taking orders for the next run of thirteen machines. Delivery date has not yet been announced. The Lindow-White rose engine, without stand and cross-slide, is offered at $2600 US.
Lindow-White Machine Works is the result of the collaboration of Steve White and David Lindow. With the common goal of producing machines and tooling for the ornamental turning world that had long been out of production and available only to those with deep pockets, the two enthusiasts combined their talents and produced a run of affordable rose engine machines, cutting frames, and accessories.
M. Dale Chase, well-known ornamental turner died at age 73
Known as "the maker of boxes," Dale Chase became intrigued with making the finest boxes possible – pushing the very definition of sensuous, colorful and striking. The turned box became his passion during the last fifteen years of his more than thirty years as a woodturner. After acquiring a 150 year-old Holtzapffel lathe in 1972, he began creating wood boxes with engraved ornamental designs. As his skills continued to develop, he grew from traditional index ornamenting to the less common (at that time) rose engine work.
During a "sabbatical" from wood box making during the 1990s, he explored making gold, silver, jade and quartz crystal boxes. In 2003, after encouragement from collectors, curators and gallery owners, he began to study his two-layer wood boxes from earlier years, eventually developing successful multi-colored three layer boxes. These became the highlight of his turning career as seen during the solo exhibition at del Mano Gallery in December 2005. The boxes are in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Honolulu Museum of Art, Yale University Museum of Art, and several others, as well as in personal collections on all continents.
Dale Chase died after succumbing to a rare strain of cancer that was recently diagnosed. His skillful hands were not limited to making wood boxes, as he was a vascular surgeon for 32 years before retiring. Dale will be missed by the ornamental turning community and all who knew him.
The last surviving grandson of Russian court jeweler Carl Fabergé died at age 85
From the St. Petersburg Times, September 7, 2007:
Theo Fabergé, the last surviving grandson of Russian imperial jeweler Carl Fabergé died last month in the U.K. aged 85, the jewelry company with which he was associated said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Romanov court jeweler Carl Fabergé had five sons, the last of whom Nikolai was sent from St. Petersburg to England to represent the family business in 1903.
Theo Fabergé furthered his turning skills particularly with an 1861 Holtzapffel ornamental lathe which he restored. He made an ivory casket for the Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee in 1977 and developed techniques employing precious metals, enamel and gemstones. He established a workshop but initially refused to make eggs in deference to his grandfather. It was only the chance comment: “Why, Mr Fabergé, you’re making eggs!” by a visitor who saw him turning a piece of yew-wood as a gift for an 8-year old boy, that persuaded him.
Fabergé "Sunburst" Clock Sold for $126,500 by Cowan Auctions
From the Antiques & Arts Online Newspaper, August 28, 2007:
A Fabergé triangle sunburst desk clock sold for $126,500, highlighting Cowan's Auctions spring Americana, fine and decorative arts sale on June 23. The Fabergé triangle sunburst desk clock was created by Fabergé's leading work master, Henrik Wigstrom, as signified by the H.W. marked on the edge of the frame. The clock in translucent rose pompadour, over a engine turned sunburst ground, contained within a cased silver acanthus leaf border, was made circa 1903–1908.
Enthusiast Jon Magill announces kit for making a rose engine lathe
The Spring 2007 issue of American Woodturner, the journal of the American Association of Woodturners, features an article aimed at those people who have been initially intrigued with ornamental turning and want to give it a try but found the barriers to getting started too intimidating.
If you have watched a demo or ornamental turning at a past symposium, or perhaps read an old article with interest, but quickly lost enthusiasm after digging a little deeper and realizing how difficult or expensive it is to find, purchase and restore an antique ornamental lathe, then this may be the project for you.
This article presents a very simple design for a rose engine lathe which is capable of doing high quality work, yet is easy to build in a home workshop. If you don't have a copy of the magazine at hand, you can view the lathe construction instructions here:
Ornamental Turners International launches website
Ornamental Turners International, the US-based ornamental turning club, launches a website to help expose others to the craft, related equipment and tools, plus the fantastic results that are possible. OTI has an active forum, along with many pictures in their gallery, as well as a links to related resources.
Rare J.J. Holtzapffel Portrait Sells for $7771 at David Stanley's International Auction
From the Chronicle of the Early American Industries Association, May/Jun 2004, by John Wells:
A miniature portrait of John Jacob Holtzapffel (1768-1835), one of the most important men in the history of English tools and founder of the firm John Holtzapffel in London in 1794, created a lot of buzz at David Stanley's 43rd International Auction held March 24. The 3 ½ × 2 ¾ inch miniature (Lot 1910) was painted on ivory in the style of the English school of 1810 to 1820, and came in a red Morocco case with domed glass protective cover. It sold in the room after an enthusiastic exchange of bids for $7771.
Sotheby's Announces Private Sale of the Forbes Collection of Fabergé to Russian Industrialist
The largest private collection of Fabergé Imperial Easter Eggs, owned by the Forbes family, has been sold privately to Russian oil and gas magnate, Victor Vekselberg. The eggs were due to go up for auction at Sotheby's in New York in April along with the rest of the Forbes Fabergé collection. No price has been disclosed for the private sale, but pre-auction estimates for the collection were in the range of $80 million to $120 million.
Vekselberg plans to return the eggs to Russia. The collection "represents perhaps the most significant example of our cultural heritage outside Russia," he says. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to give back to my country one of its most revered treasures."
Related press releases:
Russian Tycoon Buys Forbes Fabergé Eggs February 4, 2004 | Additional Info
Sotheby's Announces Private Sale of the Forbes Collection of Fabergé to Russian Industrialist, February 4, 2004
Forbes Fabergé Auction, January 13, 2004