Moulthrop: A Legacy in Wood presents the distinctive work of three generations of wood turners - Ed, Philip, and Matt Moulthrop. The book traces the aesthetic from the modernist approach Princeton-educated architect Ed Moulthrop introduced a half-century ago, through the contributions of his son Philip and grandson Matt, offering insight into the thought and processes involved in creating the work.
Moulthrop vessels came along at a point in history when modern art and craft traditions merged, creating a fertile breeding ground for bold new works. In embracing a minimalist aesthetic, the Moulthrop vessel draws our attention to content, which is simply the material itself: wood, with all of its broader associations and particular grains and colors. With a restrained approach to form, the vessels allow the hand of nature to provide figure and gesture on the curved surfaces that rival the most accomplished Abstract Expressionist.
Passing a craft tradition down through the generations is rare in the modern world, as is the artists' commitment to using only regional timbers and forms that best share their beauty. Ed, Phillip, and Matt Moulthrop have found an audience among wide-ranging individuals, from leading art collectors and those who specialize in the field of wood turning to individuals who happen into a gallery and acquire a piece with no thought of collecting.
While the field of wood turning has experienced tremendous growth over the last three decades, the Moulthrops have remained true to the marriage of pure form and natural beauty that gave birth to the field, creating work that is appreciated by museum curators while remaining accessible to the general public, due to the purity and honestly of the art.
