#prestini

In interviews, James Prestini acknowledged that his woodwork was not well suited for everyday household use. In the 1930's when he began turning wood it was an exercise in precision and mastery of material. His thin walled vessels would not hold up to practical usage.

Having emigrated from Italy, his father, a trained stonecutter taught his son the value of patience and precision. Prestini exercised those values in his work and as a teacher tried to pass along those ideas to his students.  

In todays parlance his work became viral. A revival and modern interpretation of a longstanding form of craft.  By the 1950's Prestini stopped turning wood and moved on to other materials but his influence has been unmistakable in the field. It is also good example of object design, little practical usage but wonderful to look at. The concept of form over function plagues modern design but never stops me from buying something pretty to look at.