Box Elder Winged Crotch Bowl (21SF47) SOLD

The box elder branched log used to make this bowl came from the Chisago City area, just north of the Twin Cities, MN. An 9” slab was cut from the crotch for an end-grain turning. Images of the crotch and the cut cross-section piece (on the ground and attached to the lathe) are shown. This procedure will give a winged bowl and nicely show the interesting crotch figuring and red colors of the wood. An end-grain turned bowl will also have the centers or piths of both branches of the crotch. The bark on this wood was lose and flew off during turning. The bowl has a live edge that was slightly darkened with a torch to give good contrast to the light color of the wood. Box elder wood often has the red coloring seen in this bowl. This red staining is most likely produced by the tree as a nonspecific host response to wounding. It is interesting that a red color is also found in box elder bugs! Crotches usually show nice grain figuring, especially in the intersection area of the branches. This cream to red colored bowl shows a lot of flame figuring (chatoyance) and unusual scalloped patterns. The overall effect is stunning, especially when combined with the winged shape. 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 pure 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.