Transformation | Abstract Mahogany Wood Sculpture, 33cm

A hand carved abstract sculpture in mahogany, a single twisting form on a turned black base, about 33cm tall and finished clear over the grain. One piece only. The artist has titled it Transformation. In his own words it stands for the power of process when it is under the right influence, which is easy to see in the object: the wood is cut away until a solid block reads as something in motion, with the opening carved right through the centre so the light passes behind it. The twist is worked in one piece, so the grain runs continuously from the foot to the tip and the figure of the timber does the work that paint would do on a canvas. Mahogany is a close grained hardwood that takes a fine edge, which is what lets the carver leave the surface smooth enough to hold a gloss without losing the facets where the chisel turned. It is a free standing piece, not a wall work, so it needs a surface it can be walked around: a hall table, a mantelpiece, a shelf with some depth, or a desk. At 33cm it reads from across a room but does not take over a small one. The maker gives the size as 13 by 5 by 4 inches, which is about 33 by 13 by 10cm including the base. Care: dust it with a dry, soft cloth, keep it out of direct sunlight and away from a radiator, since heat and dry air are what split carved hardwood over time.