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©Francis Morrin
©Francis Morrin
©Francis Morrin
©Francis Morrin
©Francis Morrin

Emmet Kane

Emmet Kane Wood turning
Contact
English
Hours:
By appointment only
Phone:
+353 868146836
©Francis Morrin

Working with the hands to free the mind

  • • Emmet believes that anything is possible
  • • He uses native, sustainable timber in his work
  • • He is featured in the collection of the National Museum of Ireland

Emmet Kane comes from five generations of artisans and now works in the space that his grandfather built in 1944, using techniques and equipment which have been used by his forefathers. For example, it was on an old Myford ML8 lathe which his father bought in the 1950s, that Emmet first taught himself to turn wood. Over days and weeks of practice, he slowly built up his skills. He then took a two-year woodcraft course in Carlow Vocational School. With a philosophy that there is no such word as "can't", it is no wonder that he is now nationally and internationally renowned for his striking turned pieces which include distinctive textured surfaces and gold leaf.

Read the full interview

Works

  • ©Francis Morrin
  • ©Francis Morrin
  • ©Francis Morrin
  • ©Francis Morrin
  • ©Francis Morrin
Photo: ©Francis Morrin
Crock of Gold

This sculptural wooden piece was turned on a lathe from ebonised burr oak. Once the initial form shaped on the lathe, Emmet Kane works the wooden form, creating a series of wavy grooves around the piece. The sculpture, part of the National Museum of Ireland’s collection, has been finished with 23 carat gold leaf on its interior.

Height 17.5 cm
Diameter 21 cm

Photo: ©Francis Morrin
Cone of Colour

These two wooden sculptures were hand turned on a lathe. The turned forms are worked on with carpentry tools and incrusted with dyed blue and 23 carat gold leaf spikes. They are crafted from ebonised burr oak with 23 carat gold leaf and dyed yellow spikes.

Height 13.5 cm
Diameter 13.5 cm

Photo: ©Francis Morrin
Solas na Greine

This sculptural wall piece was handcrafted from ebonised oak. The piece is first shaped on a lathe and the final details carved out by hand. The sculpture is finished with 23 carat gold leaf and graphite.

Height 5 cm
Diameter 90 cm

Photo: ©Francis Morrin
Soithea Oir & Oir

These two sculptural vessels are handcrafted from Irish oak. The vessels, formed on a lathe, are textured, bleached, and finished with 23 carat gold leaf.

Height 58 cm
Diameter 15 cm

Photo: ©Francis Morrin
Little Tulip of Gold

This piece is part of a series of handcrafted wooden sculptures commissioned for the tables in Chapter One, a Michelin Star Restaurant in Dublin Ireland. The sculptural forms are crafted from ebonised oak and finished with 23 carat gold leaf on their interior. The sculpture is mounted on a steel frame.

Height 9 cm
Diameter 5.5 cm

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