Elke Hirsch

Hirsch Wooden Heart

Woodworker

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Scale and finish

Elke is a self-taught woodturner
Her huge bowls are made from a single piece of wood
Sustainability in wood cultivation is key to Elke

Elke Hirsch didn’t go through formal training to become a woodturner. Driven by her passion, she mastered her craft by spending years working with wood and observing and learning from experienced colleagues. Early in her childhood she witnessed a local woodturner turn an old oak beam from the farmhouse where she lived into a candle stand for her mother. “I was fascinated by the way such a raw piece of wood could become such a noble object,” she states. In her work, Elke demonstrates a profound understanding of her material, embellished by different surface treatments. Strong colours and high gloss or gold-plated finishes intensify the underlying structure of the wood and bring out balanced but intriguing creations. The excellence of her work has been recognised by several nominations for awards.

Interview

How do you combine innovation and tradition?
Woodturning is one of the oldest crafts in the world. Therefore, I try to create archaic forms, to preserve as much of the wood as possible without making the bowls look rustic. My innovation is in scale.
Do you see being primarily self-taught as an advantage?
If I had formally learned the profession of woodturning, I probably would not have dared to attempt bowls of such sizes. They are entirely made of one piece of chamber-dried wood and, in combination with the lacquering that I do, it is an extreme challenge. But I have to say that I have learned from outstanding master craftsmen along the way.
What sparked your passion for this craft later in life?
The love for design and beauty was never absent from my life. However, the trigger to start woodturning was a trip to Bulgaria to visit a plot for precious wood cultivation as a sustainable investment opportunity. There I came into contact again with turned candlesticks and suddenly all the memories of my childhood came back.
How is your craft connected to your region?
I only use wood from my home region or the immediate vicinity. The trees are often over 200 years old. But it is important to mention that no tree is cut down for my work. I only use pieces of trees that have been cut down for other reasons.

Elke Hirsch is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2012