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For my first entry to this year’s Christmas Ornament Challenge, I chose a traditional globe style ornament with bottom icicle finial. I wanted the globe to be a perfect ellipse similar to a perfect sphere. Of course, a perfect ellipse would express the Golden Mean.

However, a perfect ellipse does not fit into a regular polygon. Instead, I used the math to graph an ellipse to define the diameter at the middle and three points between the middle and the end. These factors are multiplied by the length of the ellipse cylinder as follows:
00%   0.618 (Middle or maximum diameter)
25%   0.598
50%   0.535
75%   0.409
100% 0.0 (End or minimum diameter)

The finished ellipse persimmon globe is about 2″ x 3″. The top and bottom walnut finials bring the ornament to 8″. All are finished with shellac friction polish.

The Christmas Ornament Challenge entry period is the month of November 2018. All crafts are invited. No video required. See the Challenges Page for rules and entry procedures.

Enjoy!