Shallow Black Cherry Burl Wood Bowl (BW230)

This is a nicely figured shallow bowl of New England Black Cherry Burl. There is a very pretty area of burl figure, framed by swirly Cherry grain. The colors are quite nice, and give the piece a warm glow. As with most such Cherry Burl bowls, there are some birdseyes, bark inclusions, mineral streaking, and resin pockets that draw the eye to the focal point of the bowl. The finish consists of hand rubbed varnish, buffed and polished with fine carnauba and other waxes to a medium gloss. Diameter: 111/4 inches    Height:   21/4 inches      Price: $175 Shipping: $18 to U.S. destinations. Contact me for international rates.

Gingko Biloba is one of the most primitive tree species on this planet. Fossils of its relatives have been found dating back hundreds of millions of years to the Jurassic. Individual trees have reportedly been known to live for more than 2500 years. It is also known as the Maidenhair tree. An extract of the very attractive and unusual fan-shaped leaves has been used as an herbal remedy for dementia and failing memory, although there is controversy about its effectiveness. The wood of the Gingko is light in color, resembling that of pine. This bowl was turned from a large Gingko that grew on a university campus in Amherst, MA. There are four woodburned images of Gingko leaves around the outside circumference. The finish is urethane oil, buffed and polished with fine carnauba and other waxes to a medium gloss. Diameter: 13 inches    Height:  41/4 inches      Price: $140 Shipping: $18 to U.S. destinations. Contact me for international rates.

Picture a harvest of juicy red apples, just picked in the sun at the mountainside orchard, temptingly heaped in this bowl of aged Black Cherry burl. Who could resist reaching out and plucking a pomme? An elegantly simple, understated curve defines the form of this piece. True to Cherry burl character, the wood proudly displays its bark inclusions, birdseyes, aged color, and resin streaks. The finish consists of hand rubbed varnish, buffed and polished smooth with fine wax to a pleasing semi-gloss. Diameter: 113/4 inches    Height:   23/4 inches      Price:  $175 Shipping:  $18  to U.S. destinations.  Contact me for international rates.

On June 1, 2011, a tornado ripped a 36-mile scar across western and central Massachusetts. Some lives were lost, hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed, and many thousands of trees were unceremoniously ravaged. One of those trees was a large diameter Red Maple that yielded this nested set of salad bowls. This wood is often referred to as "Ambrosia Maple", due to the dark streaks in the wood, caused by the activity of Ambrosia beetle larvae. There are four matched bowls in the set, all made from one large chunk of wood. These are sometimes called "mother and daughters" bowls, because each of the inner bowls was made from the interior of the next larger bowl. Each bowl has a natural edge rim, and the Ambrosia streaks. They are surprisingly lightweight for their sizes. The "mother" bowl is a sizable 181/2 inches long, and will hold enough salad to feed the whole clan. They are finished with all-natural, food-safe mineral oil and beeswax, hand rubbed and buffed to a soft glow. To maintain them, wash them off (without immersing in water) and towel-dry. As needed, re-apply a coat of mineral oil (and/or beeswax; mineral oil is available at drug stores, and will not go rancid as many vegetable oils will). Bowl 1 Diameter:  181/2 x 16 inches              Height:  9 inches Bowl 2 Diameter:  161/2 x 131/2 inches              Height:  6 inches Bowl 3 Diameter:  141/4 x 113/4 inches              Height:  5 inches Bowl 4 Diameter:  121/4 x 101/4 inches              Height:  31/2 inches      Price: $600 Shipping: $24 to U.S. destinations. Contact me for international rates.

Another victim of the June 1, 2011, tornado in western Massachusetts, a tall Maple tree, provided the raw material for this nested set of three matched salad bowls. Each bowl has a natural edge rim, and a hand rubbed finish of all-natural, food-safe mineral oil and beeswax. To maintain them, wash them off (without immersing in water) and towel-dry. As needed, wipe on a coat of mineral oil (and/or beeswax; mineral oil is available at drug stores, and will not go rancid as many vegetable oils will). Bowl 1 Diameter:  15 x 12 inches              Height:  5 inches Bowl 2 Diameter:  111/2 x 91/2 inches              Height:  3 inches Bowl 3 Diameter:  83/4 x 71/4 inches              Height:  2 inches      Price: $275 Shipping: $18 to U.S. destinations. Contact me for international rates.

Another nested set of four oval Ambrosia Maple salad bowls from the June 1, 2011, tornado in western Massachusetts. Each bowl has a natural edge rim, and a hand rubbed finish of all-natural, food-safe mineral oil and beeswax. To maintain them, wash them off (without immersing in water) and towel-dry. As needed, wipe on a coat of mineral oil (and/or beeswax; mineral oil is available at drug stores, and will not go rancid as many vegetable oils will). Bowl 1 Diameter:  15 x 111/2 inches              Height:  71/2 inches Bowl 2 Diameter:  121/4 x 91/2 inches              Height:  41/2 inches Bowl 3 Diameter:  93/4 x 8 inches              Height:  31/4 inches Bowl 4 Diameter:  71/2 x 6 inches              Height:  2 inches      Price: $325 Shipping: $18 to U.S. destinations. Contact me for international rates.

The product of a Connecticut River Valley Silver Maple tree, this shallow wood bowl  features not only delicate spalting, but a wonderful splash of curly figure across its center, a characteristic that has been cherished for centuries in fine furniture and musical instruments. A small foot gives the piece a slight lift that enhances the (accurate) perception of light weight. Several coats of semi-gloss finish protect this piece, and it was buffed and polished with carnauba wax for a silky soft feel. Diameter:  11 inches    Height:  21/4 inches      Price: $175 Shipping: $15 to U.S. destinations. Contact me for international rates.

Yew wood was traditionally used to make archery longbows. That use required knot-free lengths of the wood, so this bowl's wood couldn't qualify for that specialized application. But the qualities that render it unfit for a bow make it quite handsome for a bowl. The tree that supplied this wood was a victim of a nasty early-autumn snowstorm that wreaked havoc on millions of trees in the northeast. It was a bit of a challenge to salvage, with its multiple cracks. But those are just the kind of "defects" I look for, because once filled and sealed, those cracks impart a great deal of character to a piece. Several coats of semi-gloss finish protect this piece, and it was buffed and polished with carnauba wax for a silky soft feel. Diameter:  11 inches    Height:  41/4 inches      Price: $140 Shipping: $15 to U.S. destinations. Contact me for international rates.

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