david nittman: woven or wood?

Colorado’s David Nittmann has mastered the art of optical illusions.  What appear to be intricately woven baskets are actually turned wood bowls, platters and bodydrums (a hollow vessel that can be used as a musical instrument or as an art object).

Nittmann turns, burns and dyes the wood used in his internationally renowned Basket Illusion series.  Photographs don’t give the secret away – my guess is that you have to see these in person to fully believe that they are wood.

A Single Twist of Fate, 16″ diameter, American Holly

Large platters have 40,000 separate burned marks. This hatch work of concentric lines and radial lines creates a circular grid pattern, the “wooden canvas”, and gives the impression of a woven basket.

Bodydrum, 14″ diameter, Honduras Mahogany

If you have a hankering to try this yourself, the artist explains the process in detail here.