Stunning Spalted Aspen Burl Bowl (22SF15) SOLD

This bowl was turned from an aspen burl that came from the Hovland, Minnesota, area. The burl was purchased from local loggers. An image showing of the trimmed burl (#1 in photo of burl) and the log from which it was cut is shown below. Aspen burls are very rare, and I am lucky to get a few each year. The burl has jagged and knobby bark which accounts for the very irregular bark edge of the bowl. Aspen burls are always difficult to turn due to decay and separation of many of the grain lines. These grain lines need frequent stabilization during turning. The burl also had some soft decayed areas, worm holes, and bark inclusions. These were stabilized and sealed with cyanoacrylate resin and fine dark wood dust. The decay also made turning difficult since the decayed areas extended through the entire burl. You can see these dark areas in the top view of the bowl. This required constant stabilizing during the turning process and wrapping the spinning piece in duct tape to prevent it from flying apart. The finished bowl is stable and solid. The wood has stunning grain figuring that includes wavy dark grain lines, tight swirls, golden to brown-red colors, and contrasting light areas that contain some flame/curl figuring (chatoyance). The figuring in aspen burl is like that of Lake Superior agate. There are also some dark lines from spalting. The jagged bark edge completes this unusual bowl. The shape of the bowl evolved from the shape of the burl, and my desire to bring out the beauty of the wood and maintain a complete bark edge. The bowl was turned from fresh burl wood using handheld tools on a lathe, dried for several months, and sanded to 400 grit. Bowls turned from green wood always warp some during drying. This gives distortions that add natural charm to a bowl. I re-turn the bottom of green turned bowls to make sure they sit nicely. 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, although the bowl is best suited for artistic display. Aspen burl is rare and very difficult to turn. Very few wood turners work with aspen burl. It is my favorite wood to turn because it is always unusually beautiful, and this bowl was very challenging to turn!

 

 

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.