Heinrich-Andreas Schilling

Woodworker

A walk with 4,000 years of tradition

Heinrich-Andreas combines woodturning with different techniques such as sewing
He grew up in his family's workshop, and took up his craft naturally
He enjoys challenging conventional forms and uses

A surprised smile is Heinrich-Andreas Schillling’s answer to the question of why he decided to become a woodturner. “I grew up in the workshop of my grandfather and my father, surrounded by wood and tools. The craft of woodturning was omnipresent and I never wanted to follow any other path.” His journey led him to an apprenticeship, studies in product design, and to master woodturner. Today Heinrich-Andreas uses his grandfather’s tools to produce his contemporary works. He has developed two different strands of his practice: on one hand, functional design pieces; and on the other, creative artworks. Both lines of his work have been recognised and exhibited internationally.

Interview

What was the purpose of a woodturner in the past?: Until the 1950s woodturning was a profession that was primarily concerned with supplying household goods, such as kitchen equipment, tools, furniture, toys, but also medical equipment. In Rhineland Palatinate, the know-how was also crucial for viticulture.
How do you combine tradition and innovation?: The lathe is the oldest machine tool developed by mankind. It allows for a cosmos of formal solutions that does not necessarily correspond to the traditional shape canon. I enjoy playing with the symmetry of rounded shape by using unusual techniques like sewing.
How do you differentiate design and applied arts?: Works in the field of design are characterised by a balanced relationship between form, material, and the possibilities of production and functionality. However, works of applied art have to take a position that goes beyond their technical functionality.
Does your craft lose relevance?: If we consider craft a something static, then yes. But if we consider it as something dynamic, that evolves as the craft of woodturning has done over the last 4,000 years, then the answer is no.

Heinrich-Andreas Schilling is an : he began his career in