Description
When your bowl arrives, take it to a window, if possible, for good natural light. As you examine the bowl – taking in the lovely hues and the seemingly arbitrary markings, eyes, and veins – be sure to turn it over slowly in your hands. It’s a very tactile piece. Feel the weight of it and the silky wax of the Carnauba palm. Starting at the foot, follow the subtle, continuous curve with your fingers until the arc terminates at the rim. Oh, that rim. The coy twenty degree bevel and then that elegant undercut and sweeping, graceful curve to the bottom.
This – currently – is the apex of my work. Bowl as art form. Inherently functional but sublime, elegant in form. If I had a Signature Series, this would be one of them. I really love this piece, and it is priced accordingly.
Ok, now for the more prosaic details:
The bowl has a graceful curve and slightly enclosed form. The elegant undercut below the rim creates shadow lines and visual interest. 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…)
This handcrafted medium-sized bowl measures 9″ in diameter. The bowl has a non-toxic, food-safe oil/wax finish, so it could hold your popcorn on Netflix night, be used as a candy dish, 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 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…)
Oh, one more thing: Some people see the foot and think the bowl would be tippy. Trust me, this thing has some heft in it’s bottom. It’s like a weeble-wobble. It would take effort to spill this bowl. Unless maybe you put soup in it. (If that’s your intent, this is not the bowl you’re looking for.)
Bowl size: 9″ diameter, 3.75″ high
Bowl capacity: 7 cups
Bowl weight: 1.3 pounds
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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 you local Lowe’s, Home Depot, Woodcraft, Walmart, etc. (A free sample is included with your purchase.)
NOTE: If your piece 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
If you’re read this far, thank you. Truly. 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…)
