Ed Moulthrop

Overall excellent condition, with some very minor surface scratches, concentrated along the widest point of the body, likely from bumping another work. The surfaces of this bowl are shiny, which is not captured in the catalogue illustration. Underside with felt adhesive pads.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The radiance of a bowl turned by Ed Moulthrop is not simply in the perfection of its execution, but in the artist's ability to discover the beauty that naturally occurred within each cut of wood and allowing this quality to develop the character of the piece.

Formally trained in architecture with a degree from Princeton University, Moulthrop began working in wood after having first established himself as a professor of Architecture at Georgia Tech and later with the firm of Robert and Company in Atlanta.  However, it was not until 1972 that Moulthrop began to pursue his passion of woodworking full-time.  Because the technology and machinery did not exist to allow Moulthrop to create the monumental designs he envisioned, he began to construct his own long-handled tools and lathes.  In his distinctive approach to executing turned wood vessels, Moulthrop treated the wood in the early stages with polyethylene glycol that prohibited cracking and then developed a specialized finish, which give the bowls their polished appearance. 

The pieces comprising this section are ellipsoid and donut-form bowls in various indigenous woods of the southwest region of the United States, where Moulthrop lived and worked.  Drawing from his surrounding, each of these sculptural works expresses the relationship between the artisan and the distinct wood chosen for the work. 

Sotheby's would like to thank Philip Moulthrop for his assistance in cataloguing the works in this section.