Dezeen promotion: a collection of striated wooden bowls, vases and pots by German artist Christoph Finkel are currently on display at design brand Luminaire's exhibition space in Miami.
Christoph Finkel carved the Rillen Vessels from sections of tree trunks, in woods including oak, maple and birch.
He used vintage turning machines, which he rebuilt to fit his needs, and hand-carving tools to create the forms before sanding the pieces and leaving them to dry out.
First displayed in Milan last year, the products are now on display in the Luminaire Lab at 3901 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida.
The vessels are also available to purchase from Luminaire's online store.
Keep reading for more information from Luminaire:
Recognising the intrinsic, natural qualities of wood, German artist Christoph Finkel pushes the limits of woodworking to create stunning, sculptural vessels. Experimenting with both machine and hand tools, Finkel reduces heavy, raw wood into perfectly shaped bowls and vessels. Viewing wood as a living material, the artist is interested in the history and natural characteristics of each piece and highlights these qualities as he creates his unique objects.
Born in Allgüa, Germany in 1971, Finkel grew up in a small village in the southern German Alps. His father, a third-generation wood tuner, introduced his son to the craft at his home studio. This passion continued as Finkel attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Nürnberg where he began sculpting primarily in wood. His artistic endeavours lead him to develop a series of bowls, which was a new and exciting challenge for him. As an artist, he saw the potential for creating sculptural forms rather than traditional functional vessels.
Each bowl begins with the careful selection of wood from locally sourced trees including oak, maple and birch as well as fruit trees. Finkel first cuts the tree with his chainsaw to get a rough form. If necessary, the wood must be dried before he can begin to turn and carve the piece to shape. Using various vintage metal turning machines that the designer rebuilt to fit his needs, with several steps of hand carving using specially made steel and iron knives and wood turning tools, he achieves the desired surface. Before the bowls are finished, sanding with paper or a steel brush may also occur before the piece is dried for up to three months.
Luminaire spotted Finkel's remarkable work during the 2012 Milan Fair where it was shown alongside Paola Lenti's exhibition at the Chiostri dell'Umanitari. A number of these one-of-a-kind pieces will soon be offered at Luminaire's showrooms.