Hollow Turned Vessel #1

Among Tony Shipley’s body of work, his walnut pieces offer a perfect testimony to seeing beyond convention. “You’re seeing a lot of the sapwood on those pieces on the outside,” he explains. The sapwood is the outermost ring of the tree, and in walnut, that ring is distinctly pale. This layer provides a stark contrast to the rich darkness at the tree’s heart. But in traditional woodworking, the sapwood rarely makes it to the final piece and is instead sawed off.

Tony refuses to accept this incomplete story. He can see the beauty in the whole tree, not just the parts we’ve been conditioned to value. “This sapwood gives the piece more color, more character, and more beauty,” he explains, and you can hear the conviction in his words. By intentionally keeping and enhancing the sapwood, Tony creates vessels that honor the tree’s complete journey and creation. Most people walk past walnut logs never knowing about that hidden white ring, never imagining it could be precious. These walnut vessels don’t just showcase technical skill; they also demonstrate Tony’s versatility as a woodturner.

Medium: Hollow Wood Turned Vessel
Size: 8″W x 19.5″H
Artist: Tony Shipley