top of page

About

Holtzapffel Rose engine, Guilloche Machine, Jon Sauer, Lathe

Jon Sauer at the Rose Engine Lathe.

JON SAUER

Pacifica, USA 94044

​

 

Professional Summary ______________________________________________

 

Lathe Artist:

Specializing in the art of Ornamental Turning.

My work is self-expressive using a variety of raw materials and techniques to create one of a kind works of art for sale or exhibition. I am committed to developing and producing high quality pieces of functional artwork.

 

Websites, Portfolios, Profiles ________________________________________

 

Skills _____________________________________________________________

 

My work is created using various Lathes, Scrapers, Skews, Gouges, Sanders and other hand tools. My specialties are working with a Holtzapffel Ornamental Turning Lathe made in 1868. The work studio is also equipped with a Armbruster MK-I Rose Engine Lathe along with a Erbchloe-Musterman 14” Precision Rose Engine Lathe. These machines are some of the finest of this type available today.

 

Work History ______________________________________________________

 

1976 to Current - Lathe Artist –Self Employed

  • Enhanced artistic projects incorporating innovative techniques and materials for making one of a kind art.

  • Designed custom artwork for clients, meeting their creative vision and ensuring satisfaction with the final product.

  • Curated successful art exhibitions and participated in juried art shows.

  • Established extensive relationships with gallery owners and curators to facilitate successful exhibitions.

 

Education _________________________________________________________

 

1966 – High School Diploma, Balboa High School, San Francisco California

As a self-taught turner, my passion started at an early age. My grandfather gifted me his home made wood lathe when I was about 8.Over the years I would play making small spindle turnings. In the mid 70’s I was exposed to exotic wood, and the woodturning fever started. Soon I was making weed pots, vases, lamps and other items, and selling them. In 1986 my work made a new turn when I obtained my first ornamental lathe. Since then I have made thousands of one of a kind lathe turned items.

 

 Permanent Museum Collections _____________________________________          

 

             National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC

              Contemporary Museum, Honolulu, Hi.

              Long Beach Museum of Art, Long beach, CA.

              Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA.

              Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN.

              Mobile Museum of Art. Mobile Al.

              Museum of Contemporary Wood Art, Philadelphia, PA.

              Royal Cultural Center, Jedda, Saudia Arabia

              Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven CT.

              American Association of Woodturners Permanent Collection

 

  Selected Collections ______________________________________________

 

              Fleur Bresler Collection

              David & Valerie Flicker

              Graham Nash Collection

              Dr. Irving Lipton Collection (Late)

              Jane & Arthur Mason Collection

              Ronald Wornick Collection 

              Paul Reiser Collection

              George Carlin (Late)

              Norton Rockler

              Michael Goldberg

              Cyril Mermilliod

              Ben Taylor

              Cynthia & Edgar Whipple

 

Awards __________________________________________________________

             

2023 Mixed Media: First Place Award, Society of Ornamental Turners, London England

2023 Piece of Jewelry: First Place Award, Society of Ornamental Turners, London England

2018 Best of Class, Rose Engine Turning - Ornamental Turners International Seattle WA

2011 Box & Container Show, 2nd Place Award - Northwest Fine Woodworking, Seattle WA

2010 American Association of Woodturners - Excellence Award, Hartford Ct.

2008 Ornamental Turners International, Rose Cup Award, St Louis Mo.

2008 American Association of Woodturners Purchase Award, Richmond Virginia

2004 The Warton Esherick Award, Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show

2001 Award of Excellence, 2nd Place / American Craft Council S.F. Show

1996 Jowett Medal, Society of Ornamental Turners - AGM, London England.

1993 Box & Container Show 1ST Place North West Gallery Of Fine Woodworking, Seattle WA.

1991 Roger Davies Friendship Award 1ST Place, USA/Society of Ornamental Turners.

1987 Haythornthwaite Cup, 1ST Place Society of Ornamental Turners - AGM, London England.

1986 Haythornthwaite Cup, 2ND Place 1986 Society of Ornamental Turners - AGM, London England.

 

Museum Shows ____________________________________________________  

            

2013 Across The Grain: Turned and Carved Wood, Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, Ma.

2010 A Revolution in Wood – Smithsonian American Art Museum – Renwick Gallery, Washington D.C.

2006 Our Turn Now: Artists Speak Out in Wood – The Ohio Craft Museum

2003 Contemporary Turned Wood from the Lipton Collection – Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

2003 Kentucky Museum of Arts & Design – Louisville Ky.

2002 Wood Turning in North America since 1930 – Renwick Gallery, Washington D.C.

2001 Wood Turning in North America since 1930 – Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis Mn.

1999 Artful Wood - Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles Ca.

1999 The Art of Turned Wood - World Forestry Center Museum, Portland Oregon.

1997 Turned For Use - San Antonio Museum of Art, San Antonio Texas.

1995 Redefing the Lathe - Turned Object III ASU Art Museum Tempe Arizona.

1994 CHALLENGE V International Lathe-Turned Objects, Philip and Muriel Berman Museum                        .

1993 Art From the Lathe - Hagley Museum and Library - Wilmington, Delaware.

          Bay Area Wood Turners - The Collectors Gallery - The Oakland Museum Oakland Ca.

          Craft Alliance Exhibition - California Craft Museum / San Francisco.

1993 Past and Present - Ongoing Traditions in American Craft Art Mitchell Museum

1993 Redefining The Lathe-Turned Object Arizona State University Art Museum

 1992 / 1991 ITOS Challenge IV Tour - Wood Turning Center.

         A.  Craft & Folk Art Museum - Los Angeles CA.

         B.  Northern Arizona University - Art Museum and Gallery - Flagstaff AZ.

         C.  University Art Museum - Arizona State University - Tempe AZ.

         D.  Port of History Museum - Philadelphia Pennsylvania.    

 

    

Presentations ____________________________________________________  

 

2023 Society of Ornamental Turners / Monthly Presentation October

2022 Society of Ornamental Turners / Monthly Presentation November

2018 Ornamental Turners International Seminar, Seattle WA

2017 Pinole Artisans

2017 Bay Area Woodworkers

2012 National Button Society Meeting / Portland Oregon

2011Oregon State Button Society / Keizer Oregon

2010 Ornamental Turning Seminar / San Jose Ca.

2010 American Association of Woodturners Symposium, Hartford Ct.

2009 American Association of Woodturners Symposium / Albuquerque New Mexico

2006 Ornamental Turning Seminar / New Castle New Hampshire

2004 Ornamental Turning Seminar / Silverdale Washington

2002 Ornamental Turning Extravaganza / Newark Ohio

2002 Yale University Art Gallery / New Haven Connecticut

2000 ACC Craft Show Fall Selection Committee / Albany New York

1998 Wood Art Collectors Conference / San Francisco Ca.

1996 Ornamental Turning Seminar / Kansas City Missouri

1995 Ornamental Turning Seminar / Penn Valley California

1995 American Association of Woodturners Symposium / Davis California

1992 Stanford University / Palo Alto California

 

Selected Exhibitions _______________________________________________   

 

2023 AAW Contemporary Wood Art Auction

2022 AAW Contemporary Wood Art Auction

2021 AAW Contemporary Wood Art Auction / AAW Virtual Symposium

         AAW Contemporary POP Benifit Auction / AAW Virtual Symposium

2020 ART of GIVING 2020,  Wood Symphony.com

         AAW Contemporary Wood Art Auction / AAW Virtual Symposium

2019 ACC Crafts Fair – San Francisco Ca.

         AAW Benefit  POP Auction / AAW Symposium – Raleigh N.C.

         ART of GIVING 2019,  Wood Symphony.com

         Nation Button Convention / Portland OR.

2018 Ornamental Turners International Seminar, Seattle WA

         ACC Crafts Fair – San Francisco Ca

         AAW Out of The Woods POP Auction / AAW Symposium – Portland Or.

         AAW Benefit Auction / AAW Symposium – Portland Or.

2017  ACC Crafts Fair – San Francisco Ca

          Small Treasures 2017 Wood Symphony.com

          Center for Art in Wood, Small Favors - Think inside the Box Exhibition, Philadelphia Pa.

2016  AAW Contemporary Wood Art Auctions EOG / AAW Symposium – Atlanta GA.

          Center for Art in Wood, Flashback / Fast Forward, Philadelphia Pa

2015  Box & Container Show, Northwest Woodworkers Gallery, Seattle WA

          AAW Contemporary Wood Art Auctions EOG / AAW Symposium – Pittsburgh Pa.

          Turned Wood – Small Treasure (Spring), del Mano - an “On Line” exhibition

2014  Turned Wood / Small Treasures, del Mano – Los Angeles Ca. On Line” exhibition
         Ceremony / AAW Symposium – Phoenix Arizona

2013 Box & Container Show, Northwest Woodworkers Gallery, Seattle WA

          Across The Grain: Turned and Carved Wood / Fuller Craft Museum - Brockton Ma.

          Turned Wood / Small Treasures, del Mano – Los Angeles Ca. On Line” exhibition

2012 Box & Container Show, Northwest Woodworkers Gallery, Seattle WA

          Ornamental Turning Seminar / Scranton Pennsylvania

2011  Inside & Outside The Box, del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

          Roots: The Artists Voice / AAW Symposium – St Paul MN.

          Turning 25; A Celebration / AAW Symposium – St Paul MN.

          Box & Container Show / Northwest Fine Woodworking, Seattle WA

2010 Turned Wood / Small Treasures, del Mano – Los Angeles Ca.

          The Teapot / AAW Symposium – Hartford Ct.

2009 Turned Wood / Small Treasures, del Mano – Los Angeles Ca.          

         The Spindle Exhibition / AAW Symposium – Albuquerque, New Mexico.

2008 Wood Art Exhibition, Mary Martin Gallery, Charleston, S.C.

          Turned Wood / Small Treasures, del Mano – Los Angeles Ca.

          Rose-Engines & Kings, Wood Turning Center, Philadelphia Pa.

         Santa Clara Carvers Show, Saratoga Ca.    

2007 Turned Wood / Small Treasures, del Mano – Los Angeles Ca.

          New Works – The Nina Bliese Gallery, Minneapolis Mn.

          Expressions in Wood – Copperwood Artware, Orange Ca.

2006 Turned Wood / Small Treasures, del Mano – Los Angeles Ca.  

         Expressions in Wood – Copperwood Artware, Orange Ca.

2005  Contemporary Crafts Market, San Francisco Ca.      

          ACC Crafts Fair – Baltimore Md.

          Innovative Perspectives in Turning – Brookfield CT.

          Wood Form & Function – Folk Tree Collection, Pasadena Ca.

          Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Philadelphia Pa.

          Artists Reflections – Wood Turning Center, Philadelphia PA.

          Turned Wood / Small Treasures, del Mano – Los Angeles Ca.

          Contemporary Crafts Market, Santa Monica Ca. 

 2004 Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Philadelphia Pa.

          ACC Crafts Fair – San Francisco Ca.

          Turned Wood / Small Treasures, del Mano – Los Angeles Ca.

          Contemporary Crafts Market, Santa Monica Ca.

2003  Turned Wood / Small Treasures, del Mano – Los Angeles Ca.

          ACC Crafts Fair – San Francisco Ca.

2002   ACC Crafts Fair, San Francisco Ca.

           Sofa Chicago 2002

           Contemporary Crafts Market, San Francisco Ca.

           Branching Out, Ellipse Arts Center, Arlington Va.

           Turned Wood / Small Treasures, del Mano – Los Angeles Ca.

2001  ACC Crafts Fair, San Francisco Ca.

          Turned Wood / Small Treasures, Del Mano - Los Angeles Ca.

          Contemporary Crafts Market, San Francisco & Santa Monica Ca.

2000 Turned Wood / Small Treasures, del Mano - Los Angeles Ca.

          ACC Crafts Fair, San Francisco Ca.   

          Contemporary Crafts Market, Santa Monica Ca.

1999 Forms in Wood, Society of Arts & Crafts - Boston Mass.

          Turned Wood / Small Treasures, del Mano - Los Angeles Ca.

          ACC Crafts Fair, San Francisco Ca.       

          Contemporary Crafts Market, San Francisco & Santa Monica Ca.

          Scents & Nonscents, Signature - Boston Ma.

1998 Turned Wood / Small Treasures, del Mano - Los Angeles Ca.

         ACC Crafts Fair - San Francisco Ca.    

          Contemporary Crafts Market, San Francisco & Santa Monica Ca.

1997 Turned Wood / Small Treasures, del Mano - Los Angeles Ca.

          Scents & Nonscents, Signature - Boston Ma.       

          Contemporary Crafts Market, San Francisco & Santa Monica Ca.

          ACC Crafts Fair - San Francisco Ca.    

1996 Textures & Form, Gallery Eight - LaJolla Ca.

           Sausalito Art Festival, Sausalito Ca.     

1996  Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington D.C.  

           Intimate Objects / Contemporary Miniatures, Stones Gallery - San Francisco.        

           ACC Crafts Fair / Baltimore Md. & San Francisco Ca.   

1995   To See or Not to See / Box & Mirror Invitational, Nancy Sachs Gallery - St Louis Mo. 

           More is More / Box Show, Gallery Eight - La Jolla Ca.

           Put A lid on it / Box Show, Society of Arts & Crafts - Boston Mass.

           Turned Wood / Small Treasures, del Mano - Los Angeles Ca.

           Wood An Art Form, Banaker Gallery - San Francisco Ca.

           ACC Crafts Fair - San Francisco Ca.               

1994  Wooden Boxes & Lidded Containers / Galerie fur angewandte Kunst

                  (Gallery for applied Art) Munich Germany.

          Sticks & Stones, American Crafts- Cleveland Ohio.

          Turned Wood - Small Treasures, del Mano - Los Angeles Ca.

          ACC Crafts Fair - San Francisco Ca.                  

          Scents & Nonscents, Signature Stores-Mass.

1993 Selected Artist of the Month, del Mano Gallery - Los Angeles CA.

          ACC - Pacific States Fair - San Francisco CA.

          Contemporary Wood,  Banaker Gallery - San Francisco CA.

          Lathe-Turned Objects Defined III / Functional and Sculptural,  Society of Arts & Crafts - Boston MA.

          Turned Wood Exhibition, Carlyn Galleries - Dallas Texas.

1992 Turned Visions, Craft Alliance - St. Louis MO.

          Contemporary Wood 92, Banaker Gallery - Walnut Creek CA.

         A Celebration of Decoration 100 Ornamental Containers,Craft Alliance, St.Louis MO.

1991 Holiday Collectibles, Sylvia Ullman American Crafts -Cleveland Ohio.

          Contemporary Wood 91, Banaker Gallery - Walnut Creek Ca. 

1990 Holiday Signatures, Katie Gingrass Gallery - Milwaukee Wi.

         Wood Turning Vision & Concept II, Arrowmont - Tennessee.

         Contemporary Wood 90, Banaker Gallery - Walnut Creek CA..

1988 On a Scale From One to Ten, North West Gallery of Fine Woodworking - Seattle, WA.

            

 Work has appeared in the following Publications_______________________

A Revolution in Wood - Book

American Craft Magazine (various issues)

American Woodturner (various issues)

American Woodworker (various issues)

Art & Entertainment / Mendocino Ca

Boston Entertainment

Contemporary Turned Wood - Book

Conversations with Wood - Book

California Home & Design Magazine

Fine Woodworking (various issues)

International Lathe Turned Objects – Book

International Netsuke Society Journal Vol 30, No. 3, Fall 2010

Masters of Contemporary Art – Book 1,2,3,4 & 5

Museum of Ornamental Turning Newsletter

New York Times

Pacifica Tribune (various issues)

Rose Engine Patterns by Jon Sauer -  Book

San Francisco Chronicle (various issues)

Seattle Times

SF Weekly

Society of Ornamental Turners Bulletin (various issues)

Taos Magazine

The Cutting Edge: Contemporary Wood Art and the Lipton Collection - Book

Turning Points (various issues)

Wood Turning in North America Since 1930 - Book

Woodturning Magazine (various issues)

Woodshop News (various issues)

Woodwork Magazine (various issues)

Woodworker West Magazine (various issues)

World of Wood Magazine (various issues)

 

Galleries that have shown my work __________________________________ 

 

           Accessories after the Fact / Los Angeles, California

           Alaska Gift Gallery / Kenai, Alaska

           Albany Art Gallery / Albany Ca.

           American Artisan / Nashville, Tennessee

           American Crafts / Cleveland, Oh.              

           Ashland Harwood Gallery / Ashland Oregon          

           Art Who / Tennessee

           Artisans Guild Store / Mendocino, California

           Artist Gallery / Pacifica, California

           Babcock Gifts / Memphis Tn.

           Bare Necessities / Seattle, WA.

           Bella Cosa / Claremont, Ca.

           Bellagio / Asheville, North Carolina

           Best Art Shop / Naperville Il.

           California Craft Museum / San Francisco, Ca.

           Carlin Galerie / Dallas, Texas

           Casa Mateo Antiques / Pacifica Ca.

           Christopher Bell Gallery / California 

           Concord Gallery / Concord, Ca.

           Creative Arts / Berkeley, Ca.

           Creative Beginnings / Laguna Beach Ca.

           Creative Resources / NYC, New York

           David Frank Gallery / Portland Oregon         

           del Mano Gallery / Los Angeles Ca.

           Dearing Galleries / Taos, New Mexico   

           Douglas-Baker Gallery / Minneapolis, MN.

           Dovetail Collection / Healdsburg California

           Dunn Mehler Gallery / Miramar, California

           Dunn Gallery / Oakland California

           Eclectic Collector / Katonah, New York

           Elaine Potter /San Francisco, California

           Elements / Chicago, Illinois

           Exotic Wood Gallery / Oakhurst, California

           Extravagance / San Francisco, California

           Falconer’s / Chatham, Ma.

           Fine Woodworking / Sausalito, California

           Fine Woodworking of Carmel / Carmel, California                

           Folk Tree Collection / Pasadena, Ca.

           Gallery 8 / La Jolla, Ca.             

           Gallery M / Half Moon Bay California

           Guild Store / Mendocino, Ca.

           Harllee gallery /  Highlands, NC

           Highlights / Mendocino, Ca.          

           Iris Too Gallery / Berkeley, California

           Ironwood Gallery / Ridgefield, CT.

           Jerusalem Shoppe / San Francisco, Ca.

           Katie Gingrass Gallery / Milwaukee Wisconsin

           Lightside Gallery / Santa Fe, New Mexico                 

           Lily Rose gallery / Santa Rosa Ca.

           Los Robles Gallery / Palo Alto, California

           Marty Magic / Santa Cru, Ca.

           Mercado / Albuquerque, New Mexico

           Nancy Sachs Gallery / St Louis, MO.

           New Horizons Gallery / Greenwich, Ct.

           Northwest Gallery of Fine Woodworking / Seattle WA.

           Oakland Museum Gift Shop / Oakland California

           Objects of Desire / Louisville Kentucky  

           Objects on the Square / Murray, Kentucky

           Old Roxy Theatre Antique & Gifts / Kennewick, WA.

           One of A kind / San Francisco California

           Options / Healdsburg, Ca.

           Oswego Lake Gallery / Lake Oswego Oregon

           Out of The Woods / Atlanta, Georgia

           Pauline Collection / Visalia, Ca.

           Peaceable Kingdom / Ann Arbor, Michigan

           Pismo / Denver, Colorado

           Purple Pomegranate / Kalispell, MT.

           Q Street Fine Crafts / Salt Lake City Utah

           Quilt Designs / Goshen, In.

           Petris / Sausalito, California

           Quest Collection / Sausalito, California

           Quilt Designs / Goshen IN.

           Real Mother Goose / Portland, Oregon

           Roche Bobois / Philadelphia Pa.

           Sandra Collins / Birmingham, Michigan

           Seldom Seen/ Palm Beach, Florida

           Shepherdess / San Diego Ca.

           Show of Hands / Denver, Co.

           Signature Galleries / Boston Mass.

           Silver Thistle / Santa Monica Ca.       

           Smithsonian Museum Stores / Washington D.C.     

           Stones Gallery / San Francisco, Ca.      

           Society of Arts & Crafts / Boston Mass.  

           Studio’s / La Quinta, Ca.

           The Real Mother Goose / Portland OR.

           VEM / St Simons, Ga.

           War Bonnet / Jackson Hole WY.

           What on Earth / Columbus Oh.

           Wood Symphony Gallery – Web Based

           Woodbourne Gallery / Dayton Ohio

           Woodturning Center / Philadelphia Pa.

           Zozaku / Berkeley, California

bottom of page