Description
This handcrafted bowl measures just a tad under 11.25″ in diameter. The bowl has a non-toxic, food-safe oil/wax finish. It could be used as a salad or fruit bowl, hold your popcorn on Netflix night, or just be admired as a decorative display piece. It would make a lovely gift or an objet d’art for your coffee table or bookshelf.
The slight undercut below the rim creates shadow lines and visual interest, as well as a tactile grip for your thumb when you pick it up. A stylish foot on the bottom makes the bowl appear to float above the table. The reddish color, grain, and markings of the wood are gorgeous and typical of Black Cherry. For this particular batch of Cherry, the grain patterns, markings, and veins are truly exceptional, in my opinion. (The last photo below is the salvaged cherry from whence this bowl came. See ‘History’ below for more on that…)
The bowl was finished with four coats of hand-rubbed, food-safe, oil/wax finish, and then buffed out with a light coat of Carnauba wax. With proper care, this bowl will last for generations. (See care instructions below…)
Bowl size: 11-3/16″ diameter, 3.5″ high
Bowl capacity: a little over 2 quarts (9.25 cups)
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(click on image to view full size…)
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) is native to eastern North America. It has been one of our most prized furniture timbers for centuries. It is easily workable with both hand and power tools and it exhibits some of the most beautiful colors and grain patterns of any domestic species. Black Cherry develops a rich reddish-brown patina as it ages. As a woodturner, cherry is one of my favorite species. It never disappoints!
Caring for Wooden Bowls
The food-safe finishes I use are water-resistant – not water-proof. Wash wooden bowls with mild soap and warm water. Rinse and towel dry immediately.
Wooden kitchenware is not dishwasher safe and should never be left in water to soak. Excess water for prolonged periods can cause the wood to swell and crack. Also, do not put wooden bowls in the microwave. They will super-heat, split, or even catch fire!
If the wood starts to look faded or dry, rejuvenate it with a quality butcher block / cutting board oil or conditioner, such as Howard Butcher Block Conditioner or Mahoney’s Walnut Oil. You can find these and other good choices on Amazon or at your local Lowe’s, Home Depot, Woodcraft, Walmart, etc. (A free sample is included with your purchase.)
NOTE: If your bowl sees only light use, an occasional buffing with a clean cotton cloth is all that’s needed to keep it looking great.
History
This particular cherry tree once stood near a trail behind the Ferris School in Wilmington, Delaware. It was salvaged after it came down in a storm in 2020.
Epilogue
I hope you enjoy this bowl as much as I have enjoyed creating it and telling you about it. The process of turning a piece of fallen tree into a beautiful and functional bowl involves many steps and can take up to a year (the wood has to dry slowly…).
I know it takes a leap of faith when you can’t see a piece in person and hold it in your hands. All of my work is satisfaction guaranteed. If the piece is not what you were expecting, please reach out to me as soon as possible to arrange a return.
And finally, if you’re in the area (Delaware) and would like to see a piece in person, please contact me to arrange a studio visit.
(The 40 second time-lapse video below is not this particular bowl, but the process is essentially the same…)
