Spalted Birch Burl Bowl (20SF17) SOLD

This large bowl was turned from a birch burl that was purchased from a logger in Hovland, MN. The trimmed piece, mounted on a lathe, is shown above, along with the complete burl and its two halves. The burl had a line of decay that bordered the burl and its log. This is apparent in the flat parts of the two halves. These decayed areas were resin stabilized during the turning. The dark areas and the hole in the bowl’s edge show exactly where the decay was. The wood is nicely spalted with interesting golden-brown colored patterns. There are rays of curl (chatoyance) throughout the bowl, some going through the dark areas. This provides a very nice overall effect. The complete live bark edge adds a contrasting border that nicely frames the bowl. This bark rim is spectacular with interesting jagged features. There is a small check or crack near the top of the bowl. This was filled and sealed and is completely stable. This crack was in the burl from the start of turning. This bowl was turned end-grain or along the axis of the log. The pith or center of the log can be seen in the bottom of the bowl along with its bullseye growth rings. The bowl was turned from green wood and dried for several months. It experienced significant warping during drying. You can easily see this along the rim of the bowl. I love the unusual shape of a warped bowl, but this distortion also requires the re-turning of the lower part of the bowl when dry. This is necessary so the bowl has a flat bottom. The bowl was sanded to 400 grit and 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 the bowl can be used for displaying and serving dry food like fruit or bread. It is best not to use a bark edged bowl for serving wet food like salads. This bowl would be a great center piece on a large table.

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.