Bob Stocksdale is recognized as a pioneer of contemporary wood turning; his exquisite bowls revitalized the craft, laying a foundation for the aesthetic acceptance of lathe-turned art. He was gifted at releasing the intrinsic beauty hidden in a log or burl, and invented ways to turn serpentine and ellipsoidal shapes on the lathe.

• Born: 1913
• Died: 2001
• Hometown: Warren, IN

Stocksdale taught himself woodworking and lathe-turning at an early age on his father’s farm; his first lathe was powered by the motor of an old Maytag washing machine. He turned his first bowl in a camp for conscientious objectors during World War II, where he also taught woodwork to other COs.

Bob Stocksdale’s Art Works

His work was included in the American exhibit of the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair and has been recognized internationally for fine design and workmanship. His many honors include the American Association of Woodturners Lifetime Achievement Award (1998) and the Masters of the Medium Award, James Renwick Alliance (2003). Bob Stocksdale received the American Craft Council’s Gold Medal in 1995. He died in 2003.

Stocksdale’s Artistry and Style

Stocksdale primarily focused on turning wooden bowls, and his work was distinguished by its simple yet elegant forms, meticulous craftsmanship, and an emphasis on revealing the natural beauty of the wood.  He worked with a spectacular variety of domestic and exotic hardwoods, he enjoyed hunting for unusual types of wood through auctions, at ship-repair yards, and often received unique samples from collectors of rare wood around the world.