Anthony Bryant

Woodturner | Helston, United Kingdom

The master of thin wood

Anthony is an expert of ‘green’ woodturning
He focuses on sculptural potential
Art is his main source of inspiration

Anthony Bryant grew up with wood. In fact, his father and grandfather were both master carpenters. From the age of 15, Anthony started to spend increasing amounts of time in the family workshop. While working in a bank, Anthony took his first woodturning course which inspired him to pursue a more creative and artistic path. During the upcoming two years, he got trained as a woodturner, opened his own workshop in 1982 and exhibited his work in New York five years after that. Using a mix of traditional tools and machinery, Anthony explores the limits of his material of choice – freshly cut, ‘green’, wood. “I like to take risks and push the material to its limit.” The result are his breathtakingly thin vessels whose forms surpass functionality.

Interview

©Steve Tanner

©Steve Tanner

Why did you choose this craft?: My father and grandfather were master carpenters and from a very young age I liked being in the family workshops and felt a natural affinity with wood. From the age of 15 I started using an old foot operated treadle lathe before progressing to an electric machine.
Did you learn from a master?: Partly, yes. From 1980 to 1982 I trained with a professional woodturner, but I am otherwise self-taught. I went on my first woodturning course in July 1980 and was hugely inspired by the man who taught me. This man and I became friends for life.
What is ‘green’ woodturning?: I buy the whole tree as soon as it has been cut down, while is still full of sap and water. When the wood is ‘green’ I am able to ‘turn’ vessels that are very thin. These vessels will warp as soon as the wood begins to dry and move into a more abstract shape.
What does well made mean to you?: Where the maker – through his skill and technique – has allowed the wood to move and warp into an exciting shape. What I love most is finding a tree that has a unique grain which will be happy to be turned very thin and then warp into its own preferred shape.

Anthony Bryant is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1980