To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl: The Lifelong Quest of Bob Stocksdale Book

During the woodturning renaissance of the 1970s, one man emerged as the inspiration for scores of new woodturners. His name was Bob Stocksdale. Extraordinarily talented, Stocksdale began turning bowls in the 1940s and was a master at finding the natural beauty in wood. This unique talent, combined with his gifted use of simple tools, became the trademark of his work. With pieces in the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, he became an unassuming celebrity who set the standard for woodturning excellence. In 1987, author Ron Roszkiewicz had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend a week in Stockdale's home workshop to hear him describe his life and his work. With text transcribed directly from audiotapes and never-before-seen photographs, To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl illustrates more than just how a turning legend shapes, sharpens, and finishes-it's a snapshot of an American original.