Introduction
The Worshipful Company of Turners holds its turning competitions every two years. They attract entries from turners of all ages and skill.
There should be a competition for you, whatever your interest or proficiency.
For example, this year’s Master’s Open Competition marks the 100th anniversary of the Armistice. Woodturners are asked to create works which reflect their personal style, techniques and response to the 1918 Armistice and the 100th anniversary on 11 November.
This year’s competitions will be judged on Monday 26th November. Other key dates are below.
This page provides a summary of the twelve competitions. Linked pages provide more detail and entry forms.
The competitions are organised by the Turners’ Company (6) and the:
- Association of Woodturners of Great Britain (2)
- Society of Ornamental Turners (3)
- Association of Pole Lathe Turners and Greenwood Workers (1)
In addition to the opportunity to win competition prizes, the next day’s View, Love, Buy provides a great opportunity to showcase your entries to the public and, if you wish, to sell them.
Rules and entry forms can be downloaded as PDF documents from each competition page.
There is also a page and a PDF download for the General Conditions of Entry that apply to all competitions.
The competitions are listed below. Click on the link to go to the specific competition page.
*Please complete all three boxes. The Turners’ Company will use the information you provide to let you know about our exhibitions, competitions and other events. You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from the Turners’ Company via MailChimp, or by emailing clerk@turnersco.com. For more information about our privacy practices see our Data Protection Policies.
The Worshipful Company of Turners’ competitions
These competitions are open to all turners normally resident in the United Kingdom (except for the Bert Marsh competitions)
- Master’s Plain Turning Competition: A pair of items, not necessarily matching
- Master’s Ornamental Turning Competition: A decorated chalice
- Master’s Open Competition: A piece commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armistice
- Felix Levy Competition: Any piece of turning with no restriction as to subject, size or style
- Bert Marsh Competitions: one for members of the Worshipful Company of Turners and the other for holders of the Company’s Certificate in Turning
Competitions organised with the Association of Woodturners of Great Britain
Open to members of the AWGB only.
- AWGB Senior competition
- Ray Key competition for entrants under 21 on 26 November 2018
Competitions organised with the Society of Ornamental Turners
Open to members of the SOT only.
- Lady Gertrude Crawford Competition: for conventional ornamental turning
- Fred Howe Competition: for rose turning or a combination of ornamental and rose turning
- H.E.Twentyman Competition: predominantly plain turning, but with a discrete element of ornamental turning
Competition organised with the Association of Pole Lathe Turners and Greenwood Workers
Open to members of the APTGW only.
- APTGW competition: A candlestick produced on a pole lathe
Key Dates
Entry forms must be received by the Clerk of the Turners’ Company by COB on Wednesday 14 November.
Monday 26 November
- All entries must be at Carpenters’ Hall by Noon
- Judging starts at 4pm
Tuesday 27 November
- 10am – 4pm: the free 2018 View, Love, Buy show of all the entries and winers of the competitions
- 4pm: Prize Giving for competition entries
- 4pm – 6pm: entries which have not been sold may be collected from Carpenters’ Hall
‘View, Love, Buy’ show
At the View, Love, Buy show on Tuesday 27 November, all the competition entries and winners will be on show along with a curated display of works by members of the:
- Register of Professional Turners
- Association of Woodturners of Great Britain
- Society of Ornamental Turners
- Association of Pole Lathe Turners and Greenwood Workers
Many of these works will also be for sale during the one day that View, Love, Buy is open.
More 2018 information and downloads
> Competitions documents page – providing all documents in one location
> Book your free tickets to View, Love, Buy on Tuesday 27 November (Eventbrite)
> Detailed information about tickets and entry times
> More about Carpenters’ Hall, including location, travel and access
Looking back at the … 2016 & 2014 Competitions
The theme of the Master’s Open Competition in 2016 commemorated the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London.
The theme of the Master’s Open Competition in 2014 was ‘The Square Mile’s energy to transform lives‘ in honour of Honorary Liveryman Dame Alderman Fiona Woolf being elected Lord Mayor of the City of London.