I’m Jim Silva and I created this site to showcase my original Nantucket Turnings as well as the other pieces I design.

What exactly is a Nantucket Turning? Look in the upper right hand corner of this page! I’m a woodturner and Nantucket basketmaker and Nantucket Turnings are my unique, original fusion of two elegant and fascinating crafts.

Woodturning and basketry are wonderfully tactile mediums and present infinite technical and artistic challenges. I welcome you to explore my site and hopefully learn more about woodturning or Nantucket basketry.

Nearly all of the woods I use in my turnings are salvaged, either from storm-downed trees, damaged or diseased tree prunings or from lot clearings from arborists or tree services. I rarely use commercially harvested exotics and then, only from reputable, sustainable sources. As a matter of fact, many of the pieces displayed here were “rescued wood” from what was to be firewood or landfill.

 

All of my pieces are one-of-a-kind and hand turned from solid wood on a lathe. A great many of my pieces are available for sale and if you see a piece you enjoy and would like to discuss commissioning of a similar piece please contact me through this website. I have other additional pieces available for sale on Etsy. I’m looking forward to sharing my work with you through this website. Enjoy 🙂

I teach Woodturning and Nantucket basketry from my home studio in West Wareham, MA. Please contact me for further information and class availability.