Merry Christmas from Steven Lalioff to his Daughter, Hannah

Dear Friends,

I've been locked away in my studio for 3 weeks... here's the result of 200 hours.

Size: 9.5" tall

Materials: Black Ash Burl, Copper, Brass, Shell (windows), Iron, Pewter, Glass, Marbled Paper, Battery operated flashing LED lights, Leather, Gold Leaf.

Inspiration: 1905+Roycroft+Jules Verne

It was a great deal of fun to make...but I don't think I could do it again!

Mums the word, it's Hannah's Xmas present.

My best,

Steven

Copy and photos supplied by Steven Lalioff.

Raffle Fire Bucket by Steven Lalioff

Starting today and running until November 1st, 2010, there is a non-profit raffle being held at Heathsouth Rehabilitation Hospital in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The prize for this raffle is the fire bucket (shown above) that I created especially for this fund raising event. 

All of the proceeds will be going to support Rehab Vision, the hospital's charitable wing. All of the proceeds will be used to help those patients in great financial need. 

Tickets are $10.00 (ten dollars) each. The drawing will be held at the hospital on November 6th, 2010. Deadline for ticket entry is Nov. 1st. Tickets can be purchased by mailing a check to;

Theresa O'Keefe c/o
Rehab Vision
Healthsouth Hospital
175 Lancaster Blvd.
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
(717) 691-3700 ex.5029 

Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope so that you can receive your ticket. You may purchase as many tickets as you like but please remember to return each half of every ticket stub with your name and contact information back to the hospital so that if you do win you can be notified...entry deadline November 1st! 

You may use your cancelled checks as a tax deduction as this is a non-profit organization charitable event. 

The bucket shape is based upon the design of George Washington's fire buckets, the buckets he purchased in Philadelphia in 1790 for the first Presidential offices. The hand-painted folk-art eagle design is inspired from an original American fire bucket from the early 19th century. It is one of the finest fire buckets I have ever created. The motto upon the ribbon, "Pro Bono Publico" translates from Latin as, "For the Public Good". It is a very traditional verse found on early fire buckets and it holds as true today as then. The bucket is 13" tall to the rim and is an authentic recreation in every detail.

Copy and photo supplied by Steven Lalioff.

Steven Lalioff Fire Bucket

"Hoyaneh" by Steven Lalioff

Title; Hoyaneh
Material; Black Ash Burl, Deer Antler, Trade Silver Earrings.
Size; 21" tall
Date of creation; 2010

I consider this sculpture my finest original creation to date. It is not a copy of any known original but a unique culmination of inspirations adapted from early Woodland Indian art effigies. It was my intention to try to capture the essence of 17th and 18th century Native American sculptures in order that I might be able to render and bring forward something unique that possessed the same essence of an earlier period.

More information can be found at Burl Carving. Copy and photos supplied by Steven Lalioff.

Three New Blogs

The first blog is Fire Buckets by Steven Lalioff which is "A marketplace for original Fire Buckets, an archive for Fire Bucket History, a tutorial on conservation and restoration and a showplace for contemporary works."

Steven discusses the hallmark of John Fenno in this article.

The second blog is Burl Carvings which is where Steven Lalioff showcases his carvings collectively. There are also some original pieces shown on the site.

Steven still maintains his web site, Steven M. Lalioff Art and Restoration which showcases all his work.

The third is blog is Flintlocks by Chuck Edwards where he showcases his work.

Stop by these blogs and leave a comment. They are listed under Blogs and Forums on Contemporary Makers.

Pennsylvanian Hex pouch II by Steven Lalioff

"Staying Within the Compass"

Some of my favorite work these days is when I can find a way to combine old designs in a logical way to create something completely new. This pouch is certainly unique, but all of the elements of design, construction and materials are documented within the "compass" of old work.

The original pouch that inspired the shape and pattern was collected by Tom Ames in S.E. PA. The original 19th c. pouch was constructed from the recycled leathers from a pair of work boots, the rough side facing out on the pouch as it had when it was still a boot...and very waterproof from repeated waxing and burnished wear. Over the years I have found MANY old pouches made from old boot leather, "waist not~want not" as the saying went. For this example however, I didn't copy the rough-out leather as I had for the bench copy I made several years ago, for this, I just barrowed the pattern and the construction techniques.

The profuse designs I carved & stamped into the leather came from three separate historic inspirations; First, the elaborate carving technique and design from the Getz Fox Face Pouch gave me permission to just go wild. Second, the idea of using over-lapping Hex symbols I garnered from an early powder horn I saw long ago but never forgot. Third, the compass Hex designs themselves from the head stones of 17th and 18th c. settlers graves.

The buckle I made by refiling a large solid brass buckle to match the lines of an early brass buckle on an 18thc. traveling pouch I collected in Pennsylvania years ago. It has a proper iron tongue...I have never found an early brass buckle that had a brass tongue. It takes a bit of time to forge out and fuss adding an iron tongue but it's those little traditional nuances that I like.

P.S. If I miss my shot while toting this pouch, I can't blame a witch for my poor aim!

Hex Pouch I can be found here.

Copy and photos supplied by Steven Lalioff.

Carved Casket by Steven Lalioff

Photo supplied by Steven Lalioff.