Box Elder Crotch Bowl (22WS15) SOLD

The box elder crotch used to make this bowl came from the Chisago City area, just north of the Twin Cities, MN. A photo of the trimmed crotch (attached to the lathe) is shown in the photos. The crotch was turned perpendicular to the plane of the branches of the crotch. This will place the area where the branches intersect, the area of unusual grain figuring, in the bottom of the bowl. The top view of the bowl shows this as a dark jagged line and rays of flame (curl, chatoyance) running up the side. Box elder wood often has a red coloring which is clearly seen in this bowl. This red staining is most likely produced by the tree as a nonspecific host response to stress and wounding. The intersection of the branches is an area of stress in a tree, so the red colors are expected in a crotch. This is a live or natural edged bowl. The bark was already coming off this log since the wood was old and punky. I burned the outer edge of the bowl to give a dark contrast to the light wood. The bowl was turned using handheld tools on a lathe from green wood, dried for several months, and sanded to 600 grit. Wood that is turned green will always warp as it dries. This adds a natural quality to the bowl, but also requires the bottom to be re-turned so the bowl sits well. The bowl was sealed with two coats of tung oil, hand sanded after each coat, and finished with a buffed thin coat of beeswax and walnut oil. This finish is considered food safe so this bowl can be used to serve or display food, although it is best used as an artistic piece. The bowl is stable and should last for hundreds of years and improve gracefully with age.

All my bowls are can be returned for a full refund if you are unsatisfied for any reason within 60 days. You must only pay the return shipping.

All of my bowls come with a laminated card with images of the bowl and burl, a complete description of the bowl and making process, and the artist's bio on the back side. There is no price on the card so it can be used if the bowl is given as a gift.