Friedemann Buehler

Buehler's turning technique is complex and time-consuming, resulting in elegant and breathtaking forms. All of his work has a simple, but perfect flowing line and the surfaces are either smooth and finely sanded or rough and brushed. To achieve this wide range of surfaces, he uses various techniques such as texturising, brushing, bleaching, staining, varnishing and oiling. The combination of craftsmanship and artistry bring out the unique beauty of the wood and result in pieces of timeless elegance, not only pleasing to the eye, but also to the touch.

The artist selects his wood very carefully, preferring wood from the forests of Hohenlohe, a small region in the northern part of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. These include oak, maple, ash, walnut, wild service tree, hornbeam and birch. After selecting the felled trees, Buehler immediately goes to work in the forest using an axe and a chain saw to form rough planks. The rest of the work is done in the studio where some of the planks are soaked in large water containers, then turned wet and finally dried. Other planks are roughly turned and set aside to dry. It can take years before these turnings are completed.

The artist lives and works in Langenburg, Germany. His work is in the collections of the Museum of Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg; The Grassi Museum, Leipzig; The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Norway; and Kunstgewerbemuseum, Dresden.