Philip Moulthrop

Philip Moulthrop creates ambitious mosaic vessels out of an assortment of wooden cross-sections, using a technique that he pioneered in the 1990s. The former lawyer took up woodturning after learning basic techniques from his father, Ed Moulthrop. Including Philip’s son, Matt Moulthrop, three generations of the family have run a workshop developing unique tools and methods for turning large-scale pieces of green wood. Moulthrop has exhibited with the American Craft Council since 1982. In 1993, his works were among those selected for the newly established White House crafts collection launched by former U.S. President Bill Clinton. For labor-intensive works such as Mixed Mosaic (301) (2013), Moulthrop mixes pieces of different branches with black resin to create a vessel in a simplified shape, sanding the work down before adding layers of polish. Many of his creations take between four months and a year to complete.