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[Iacopo]

This is my latest spinning top;
it has external replaceable tips, (taper joint), and screws in the flywheel for to balance the top accurately.
Diameter 60 mm, spin times up to about 30 minutes.
 
I glued some Guinea fowl feathers to the top and the base as for decoration.








High quality photo that can be enlarged clicking on it:
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3b/4e/1d/3b4e1d47e1888532acc7e9d94747c894.jpg

[Jeremy McCreary]

Beautiful as always, but the first word that came to mind was "serene" -- in part due to an impressively low critical speed.

[ta0]

 

This top seems to float in the air: must be the feathers! 
I love the combination of the mechanical precision of the top with the organic randomness of the feathers. But the feathers also have their own precision in their geometric fractal nature.
You are a Maestro, Iacopo!

[Iacopo]

Beautiful as always, but the first word that came to mind was "serene" -- in part due to an impressively low critical speed.

Thank you, Jeremy.
The impressively low critical speed is not real, because the precessing top is not spinning slowly but rapidly, it is only an effect of the video that makes it seem to spin slowly. 

[Iacopo]

Thank you, Ta0 !
I always put an effort for mechanical precision in my tops.
I had to make some tests to understand how to use the feathers, but I am happy with the result.

[Jeremy McCreary]

Feathers and tops resonate nicely. After all, tops fly through the air, too. They just go in circles. And falling feathers often spin or spiral.

[ta0]

I received the top and looks even better in person than in the photos!

Holding the top is like having a piece of very fine jewelry.
Watching it spin and precess on and on is mesmerizing!

I never thought I would enjoy so much spinning a finger top, but there is something fulfilling in imparting energy to such a well balanced object.

Iacopo is tops in tops! Thanks!!!

[Iacopo]

Thank you, Ta0, this is a very rewarding comment for my job !

[Jeremy McCreary]

I never thought I would enjoy so much spinning a finger top, but there is something fulfilling in imparting energy to such a well balanced object.

My LEGO finger tops are in no way comparable to Iacopo's masterpieces. But the better performers still give me a satisfaction similar to the one you describe. There's something special and intimate about the way a good finger top interacts with the hand during the twirl and the eye afterward. Like the Earl says,

Happiness goes in a circular motion.

[the Earl of Whirl]

Iacopo's work, like always, is amazing.  Thanks for being so willing to share it with us.

By the way, I wish I could take credit for that "happiness runs in a circular motion" phrase but it comes from an old camp song I learned years ago.  And before that, it was a popular song written and sung by Donovan.  It makes a great round.  Thanks for referring to it.  I would love to play it on the piano at worlds but I am not sure I will be allowed to touch the keys!!!

[Iacopo]

Detail of the top...




One reason I make so few tops is that I have little free time. 
My real job is making moulds of sculptures, which is what leaves me with little free time;
this is the last one I made, (mould + gypsum cast).
I don't believe playing with tops can turn people homosexual in any way, (like it seems some people in Japan believed long time ago), so you can enjoy the nice sculpture.
In the background the lathe, (oiled and covered with cellophane to prevent rust);
I am making other moulds now but I can't wait to start making my next top !   

[the Earl of Whirl]

Amazing!  Also, very fascinating!!!

[Jeremy McCreary]

My real job is making moulds of sculptures, which is what leaves me with little free time;

Why am I not surprised that you spend your days surrounded by fine-art sculpture? Your tops, after all, are fine-art kinetic sculptures with shape, pattern, hand feel, and gyroscopic motion.

this is the last one I made, (mould + gypsum cast).

Stunning piece! Original artist?

1st thought: The folds in the leftmost angel's smock strongly suggest that she's either moving or just stopped. Not sure if the middle one's moving or posing, but the rightmost seems to be still at this instant. Masterful!
2nd thought: The folds in all 3 smocks are astoundingly lifelike, moving or not! How on earth did the sculptor carve them from stone?? Seems like some of those folds would also be very hard to mould.
3rd thought: Wow, could this have been the inspiration for Charlie's Angels?

I am making other moulds now but I can't wait to start making my next top !   

And we can't wait to see it! They come when they come, but they're always worth the wait.

[Jeremy McCreary]

Detail of the top...

Now that you have a top carrying a high-contrast pattern, watch it spin under a variable-speed strobe light. The strobe will freeze the rest pattern at some flashing rates and create new virtual patterns at others.

By fine-tuning the flashing rate, these speed-dependent virtual patterns can be frozen as well. Some are quite unexpected.

[Iacopo]

Stunning piece! Original artist?

He is Carlo Finelli, a sculptor who lived two centuries ago.
The sculpture is "Le ore danzanti".   "Ore" are mythological figures, doughters of Zeus, "danzanti" means "dancing", so, yes, they are moving.
Some parts are difficult to cast but there are techniques and materials, (soft silicon), which help to overcome the difficulties.