Terry Martin (Australia) / Zina Burloiu (Romania) ash bowl with chip carved detail 9x20cm. SignedZina Burloiu and I have been collaborating since 1999 and over recent years we have worked together on almost every creative piece we have made, so when I was invited to participate in the Ray Key Tribute Collaboration I thought how appropriate it would be to work with Zina to make a three-way collaboration with our friend Ray. We both knew Ray and I think our feelings about him are best summed up by what happened at the World Conference in France in 2003 when we offered to trade a piece with him. He looked at the piece we wanted to give him and said, “Oh, that’s too much, I’ll have to give you two pieces for that.” So we each ended up with our own prized Ray Key piece.From the pieces on offer I selected an Ash vessel with the same kind of rolled-in rim that I turn so Zina can show her carving to best effect. When the piece arrived at my home in Australia I stayed faithful to what Ray had already roughed out, only turning it till it ran true, thinning the walls from inside and then refining the curves. I sent it to Zina and she had the brilliant idea of carving three rows of decoration, one each for herself, Ray and me.We decided to post the piece back without any finish on it. The Ash is very tough and without finish it retains its beautiful bony white colour. We intend it to be handled so people can feel how the soft ripples in the grain contrast with the sharply defined edges of Zina’s carving. This piece was handled by Ray, then me, then Zina, so we want other people to caress it and feel that unique history.Our thanks to the AWGB for the chance to participate in this rare event.Zina and TerryThe Ray Key Collaboration Auctionn