Bill Smith is a founder of the Segmented Woodturners (a chapter of the American Association of Woodturners). The group recognized Smith’s contributions to the field with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018, especially for his 2002 book Segmented Wood Turning.
Segmented woodturning is a complex process of glueing blocks of wood together to create patterns and colors, and then turning that on a lathe to make the final product. This teapot by Bill Smith was produced by segmented turning. He glued blocks of holly and chakte kok to create the white and reddish-brown areas of the teapot. Most turned vessels are smooth, unlike Smith’s teapot which has a carved, textured surface.