Unexpected and Spalted Aspen Burl Bowl (22SF7) SOLD

This bowl was turned from an aspen burl that came from the Hovland, Minnesota, area. The burl was purchased from local loggers. Images of the trimmed burl (on the lathe) are shown. Aspen burls are very rare, and I am lucky to get a few each year. This burl had major issues with a decayed area running through about a third of the burl. You can see this in the image of the burl and in the bottom of the bowl (dark area). This had to be stabilized with cyanoacrylate resin to keep the burl together, and repeatedly stabilized during the turning. I took these extra precautions because aspen burls are so rare, I could not tolerate wasting one. Thus, this bowl was an unexpected bowl! 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 significant decayed areas and bark inclusions. These were stabilized and sealed as mentioned above. The wood has stunning grain figuring that includes wavy grain lines with tight swirls, golden to brown-red colors, and contrasting light areas that contain flame/curl figuring (chatoyance). The wood also has many dark wiggly lines that look like worms (top view of bowl). These are due to spalting, the start of fungal decay. These lines are dark and beautiful. 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 green wood using handheld tools on a lathe, dried for several months, and sanded to 400 grit. Bowls turned from green wood always warp a little 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. 

 

 

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.