Gallery of Turned Bowls
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While the bowls included in this gallery are generally attractive and interesting to look at - they are not intended just to sit on a shelf or table and pretend to be just a “work of art”. If that is what you seek, you should look elsewhere (starting with my Gallery of Artistic Vessels). These bowls are also intended to serve some utilitarian function. That function is not predetermined – it could range from the long-term centerpiece of a dried floral arrangement, daily use as a fruit, candy or nut bowl, or even everyday use in food service. If you like the woods I'm using in these bowls, you can find similar woods for sale on our companion website, TexasWoodcrafts.net. |
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Small Cedar Bowl 07-1 This is a small, delicate bowl turned from a piece of Aromatic Eastern red Cedar. While delicate appearing, with a wall thickness between approximately 1/8 inch, it is really quite sturdy. The overall size is just over 5 inches wide and 2 1/2 inches high. I recurved the upper lip inward to give it something of a Indian vase form. The color of the bowl is the very salmon to dark brown typical of Cedar. Two prominent but tightknots are present in the sides, one of which is associated with a relatively large branch which pierces the side at a low angle (top photo). In addition, several small tight knots associated with small juvenile branches are are present in the sides. These are all quite interesting character features typical of Cedar. The bowl is hand sanded, sealed with Danish oil and then waxed and buffed to a moderately high gloss.
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Mesquite End-grain Bowl 07-6 This is a very nice large and graceful bowl turned from a piece of Texas Honey mesquite. This bowl was turned from a blank that was mounted in an end-grain orientation, such that the basic grain pattern is circular around the sides of the bowl. A number of distinct ray flacks are present within this circular grain pattern. The log was actually a small crotch piece and two distinct piths (the center of each individual limb) are present in the bottom and the grain pattern is symmetrical around these centers. Classic pith-related radial cracks are associated with these two piths. These cracks were present in the live tree (not drying cracks) and were reinforced and filled when the bowl was turned; they are quite secure. The bowl is approximately 10-3/4 inches wide and just under 4 inches high. The sides are approximately 1/2 inch thick. As with most of my work, it has been well sanded and finished in natural Danish oil, and then buffed and waxed to a nice soft gloss. The bottom is signed and dated by the "artist" (yep - that's me).
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Mesquite Bowl 07-4 This is a small graceful Mesquite bowl. The sides are very thin (~1/8") with compound curves that end in a delicate, upturned lip. The colors are the dark reddish brown of mesquite heartwood with a small curved area of darker brown spalted mesquite in the lower side and bottom. The spalting is associated with a small, old radial crack that was in the wood when the tree was living. I reinforced this crack with CA glue when turning and it is tight and quite stable. This bowl is 7 inches wide and 2-7/8 inches high. It is finished in a natural Danish oil and then buffed and waxed to a soft shine.
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Slippery Elm Bowl 07-1 This is a beautiful large and graceful shallow bowl turned from a piece of Texas Slippery Elm. The wood of this bowl was from cut from a crotch that included a large partially open barky gap between the two diverging limbs. The open portion of the gap was reinforced and filled with a coppery epoxy. The resulting dark brown and somewhat "brassy" look is very attractive against the soft, light browns of the Elm. The bowl is approximately 10-1/2 inches wide and 2 inches high. The outer sides sweep gracefully up and out from a low beaded-ring base. The parallel inner sides recurve gently in the upper portion, and end in a wide, gently concave rim. As with most of my work, it has been well sanded and finished in natural Danish oil, and then buffed and waxed to a nice soft gloss. The bottom is signed and dated by the "artist" (yep - that's me).
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Mesquite Bowl 07-5 This is a very nice bowl turned from a crotch portion of Texas Honey Mesquite. It has a graceful overall shape with relatively thin walls and a tapered and sharply flaring rim. The grain swirls tightly around the three included pith areas of the crotch. A large are of iridescent, ripply grain is present in the upper portion of one side. Several thin radial and ring cracks, natural growth features in Mesquite, were present in the wood when turning. These were reinforced with glue during turning and filled with a coppery-colored epoxy. The final brassy color is very compatible with the strong honey-brown color of the Mesquite heartwood. It is just 11 inches wide and 4.5 inches high. The bowl rests on a delicate beaded-ring base. Finishing included sanding to 600 grit, a long soak in Danish oil and buffing and waxing to a soft, satin shine.
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Post Oak Bowl 06-1 This is a small, "character" bowl turned from a piece of Texas Post Oak. It was turned as an "inverted bowl, with the heartwood and a portion of the pith in the lower two-thirds and sapwood in the upper third. Numerous elongated, grey to brown "ray flecks" - classic features of Post Oak - are clearly visible radiating outward from the pith. These form a classic "quarter-sawn" pattern throughout the inward-turned rim of the bowl. The overall colors are a soft, medium brown of the lower heartwood, set off from the light brown-tan of the upper sapwood by a prominent and sharp boundary. An area of dark brown color pith-associated wood is present in the very bottom of the bowl. The overall size is 5-1/2 inches Wide by 2 1/2 inches high. A small pith-related crack is present in the bottom. This "flaw" was present when the bowl was turned and was reinforced with CA glue when being turned. It is now quite stable. Since this bowl was turned from oak that was only partially-dried, some warping occurred as it finished drying. The principal evidence of that warping is a slight ovaling of the basal ring. The bowl was carefully hand-sanded, sealed with Danish oil and then waxed and buffed to a moderately high gloss.
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Sycamore Bowl 07-1 This is a beautiful, medium sized pedestal bowl in American Sycamore. The sides flare out boldly from the graceful foot or pedestal and then recurve inward to form a flattened top around the mouth of the bowl. The shape of the inside conforms well to the graceful outside. The Sycamore grain is a graceful flowing pattern. Classic Sycamore ray flecks are prominent in the upper portion of the bowl where the grain intersects the flattened top surface at a quarter-sawn angle. The bowl is 7 inches wide and 4-1/2 inches tall and rests on a conical pedestal base approximately 2-1/2 inches wide. With relatively thin (1/4 inch) walls, this bowl is quite light for its size. Finishing inside and out included sanding to 600 grit, sealing with multiple coats of Danish Oil, and finally buffing and waxing to a soft, smooth shine.
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Large Green Ash Bowl 07-1 This is a very large bowl turned from a crotch portion of a Texas Green Ash tree. It is just under 13 inches wide and 4 inches high. The grain forms a very nice swirling pattern around the "bull-eye" centers of the two diverging limbs of the crotch. Three large areas of beautiful "curly grain" figure are present in the sides of the bowl. A prominent barky gap was present between the two diverging limbs when I roughed-out this bowl. I chose to fill this gap with black epoxy when doing the finish-turning. This coal-black epoxy forms a very nice contrast with the soft golden brown colors of the Ash heartwood. Finishing of this bowl included sanding to 600 grit, sealing with a natural Danish oil, then buffed and waxed to a soft satin shine. The bottom is signed and dated.
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Mesquite Bowl 07-1 This is a very nice large shallow bowl turned from Texas Honey Mesquite. It is approximately 13 inches wide and 3-1/4 inches high and exhibits a strong and attractive flowing grain pattern. This bowl rests on a prominent pedestal base; the sides flare-out sharply for that base and sweep gracefully up to the rim. The rim itself is wide and flat, making a form that is easy to pick up and handle. The pith of the Mesquite tree is visible at the rim and upper side of the bowl. Small, tight radial and ring cracks are associated with the pith. These are not drying cracks (or "checks") but natural growth features typical of Mesquite. They were reinforced and filled with black epoxy during turning and are now quite stable. They form attractive and interesting Mesquite character features in this finished bowl. The basic color of this bowl is the strong red-brown of Mesquite heartwood. On the inside it has one dark brown area of included bark surrounded by bright yellow sapwood. On the outside, the center of that same bark inclusion had a deep fissure that was filled with black epoxy during turning. Two patches of dark gray to black shading are present on the rim and upper sides. This darker color shading is due to spalting associated with the pith and adjacent epoxy-filled cracks. The contrast between the coal-black epoxy, dark gray spalting and the rich red-browns of the Mesquite heartwood is very attractive. The bowl has been well sanded and finished in natural Danish oil, and then buffed and waxed to a soft satin shine. The bottom is signed and dated.
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"Burly" Mesquite Bowl 07-2 This is a beautiful large and graceful bowl turned from a piece of burly Texas Honey Mesquite. The wood of this bowl was from cut from close to the side of the Mesquite tree and includes two areas of yellow sapwood and dark brown bark on the rim and upper sides. Several large "burl buds" within a tightly swirling grain are also associated with the sapwood and bark areas. One of the areas of Mesquite bark on the outside of the bowl was "gnarly" and irregular. Several deep fissures were present that required attention. These were carefully filled with black epoxy and later sanded and finished to the same level as the adjacent Mesquite bark and burly areas. The contrast between the coal-black epoxy, dark brown of Mesquite bark and rich red-browns of the Mesquite heartwood is very attractive. The primary colors are the strong red-brown of Mesquite heartwood and bright yellow of the sapwood. Two patches of darker brown shading on the rim mark areas of spalting and chemical stain of the wood - this was a very mature burly tree in the last stages of its life when removed for future development. The bowl is approximately 14 inches wide and 4 inches high. The sides are relatively thick and solid and sweep gracefully up and out from a low pedestal base. It has been well sanded and finished in natural Danish oil, and then buffed and waxed to a nice soft gloss. The bottom is signed and dated by the "artist" (yep - that's me).
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Mesquite Bowl 07-3 This is another very nice large shallow Mesquite bowl. It was also turned from a "burly" Texas Honey Mesquite, although the burly character is not as strong as bowl 07-2 above. It includes two areas of yellow sapwood and dark brown bark on the rim and upper sides (most apparent on the outside of the bowl). Several small "burl buds" within a tightly swirling grain are present and most apparent on the outside, associated with one of the sapwood and bark areas. It is approximately 13-1/4 inches wide and 3 inches high and exhibits a strong and attractive flowing grain pattern. The base is recessed and the sides curve gracefully up to the rim. The rim itself is flat but with a thick rounded bead on the outside, making a form that is easy to pick up and handle. The pith of the Mesquite tree is visible at the rim and upper portion of the bowl on the side opposite the sapwood and bark areas. Very small and tight radial and ring cracks are associated with the pith. Again, these are not drying cracks (or "checks") but natural growth features typical of Mesquite. They were reinforced and filled with black epoxy (where necessary) during turning and are now quite stable. They form attractive and interesting Mesquite character features in this finished bowl. The basic color of this bowl is the strong red-brown of Mesquite heartwood. It has been well sanded and finished in natural Danish oil, and then buffed and waxed to a satin gloss. The bottom is signed and dated.
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Osage Orange Bowl 05-5 This is a very nice, thin-wall bowl turned from a large piece of Texas Osage Orange (that's Bodark to you fellow Texans). It is just over 8 inches wide and 2.5 inches high and is a perfectly functional bowl (not just a "work of art"). It has a graceful overall shape with a narrow shallow-cupped and undercut rim. The grain is a very attractive, broad symmetrical pattern in golden brown heartwood for the most part and a large oval area of golden yellow sapwood. Two small areas of dark brown spalting, located at and just below the rim on one side, appear to be related to an old, juvenile branch and an associated crack. These are simply interesting natural features and do not compromise the integrity of the bowl. Finishing included sanding to 600 grit, a long soak in Danish oil and buffing and waxing to a soft, satin shine.
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Live Oak Bowl 07-1 This is an interesting bowl with strong and complex Live Oak grain patterns marked by several areas of "included" bark. It was turned from a large, compound crotch or fork (compound meaning several branches departing from the main trunk). Several barky crotch gaps were present in the blank; the irregular open spaces of these barky gaps were filled with black epoxy. These irregular stripes of shiny, coal-black epoxy form a very attractive contrast to be light and dark brown colors of the Oak. At approximately 10-1/4 inches wide and 2-1/2 inches high, this bowl is medium sized with a broad, low and pleasing profile. While it has a relatively heavy base for stability on a small footprint, the inside shape closely matches the outside form with a relatively thin wall (approximately 1/4 inch). The base is an approximately 2-1/2 inch-wide flat foot, incised with two distinctive rings. This bowl was well sanded and finished with Danish Oil, and then waxed and buffed to a soft satin shine. The bottom is signed and dated by the "artist".
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Live Oak Bowl 06-6 This is a very nice shallow Live Oak bowl. It is just over 13 inches wide and 2 inches high. The interior bowl is approximately 9 inches wide and 1-3/4 inches deep. The rim is approximately 2 inch wide, relatively thin, and recurved, and defined by a thin bead at the outer edge. The colors are a very pleasant combination of soft browns within a complex and swirling Oak grain pattern. During final turning of this bowl, several small and irregular open holes were encountered in one area of the upper side. I chose to fill these holes with bright brass filings to enhance their appearance (and to keep soup from dribbling-out). They form an interesting and eye-catching contrast to the soft brown colors of the Live Oak. This bowl is finished in a natural Danish oil and then buffed and waxed to a high gloss.
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Live Oak Fruit Bowl #06-1 This is a very large fruit bowl turned from a Texas Live Oak tree. It is 13.5 inches wide and just under 4.5 inches high. I am very pleased with the way this bowl turned out. The grain pattern is basically symmetrical with a thick section of oak heartwood, a thinner, central section of sapwood, and a very thin margin of bark on two opposing edges. Up close, the heartwood exhibits a very irregular and ripply pattern of annual growth rings, which is typical of Live Oak. The grain pattern are very linear in the central area of sapwood and at the near-bark margins. This grain pattern is prominent and very attractive. The overall color is a soft golden brown (the heartwood) on two sides, separated by an alternating pattern of light to dark browns (the sapwood) thru the central portion of the bowl. I turned this bowl with a gently flaring outer rim, making it easy to grasp and lift when it is loaded with fruit or salad. It has been finished with a natural Danish oil, then buffed and waxed to a very nice glossy shine. The surface is almost sensually smooth.
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"Man o'War" Live Oak Bowl Number 06-4 This is a fascinating bowl with strong Live Oak grain patterns marked by several areas of "included" bark. The larger of these barky areas included an irregular open space within the bark which I filled with black epoxy during the initial turning. Once finished, this area of bark and black epoxy formed a unique, symmetrical pattern that strongly resembles the jellyfish-like Portuguese Man o'War! Thus the name and the additional close-up photo - that is one unique feature. The bowl is medium sized with a broad, low and pleasing profile. The inside shape closely matches the outside form with quite a thin wall (approximately 3/16 inch). The color is a pleasant mixture of browns. It is approximately 10-1/4 inches wide and 2-1/2 inches high, with a crisp beaded ring as a foot. This bowl was well sanded and finished with Danish Oil, and then waxed and buffed to a soft satin shine. The bottom is signed and dated by the "artist".
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Mesquite Bowl 06-12 This is a very nice Honey Mesquite bowl with a relatively thin wall (just over 1/4 inch). The grain pattern is a swirling pattern of dark to golden-brown Mesquite colors. A delicate and very attractive pattern of grain-crossing growth lines are present on one side of the bowl. These represent an area of "tension wood" and are due to stress due to an adjacent limb when the tree was growing. The swirling grain pattern is interrupted by one prominent, linear black band in the bottom and a radiating pattern of black bands on one side. These bands represent old radial cracks that formed in the tree during it's growth - old flaws in the wood that are common in, and characteristic of, Texas Honey Mesquite. They are presently stable; the wood is strong and will not crack further - these just give the bowl additional character! I chose to fill the linear portion of these cracks with coal-black epoxy, and the center "star" portion with bright brass filings to enhance their appearance (and keep soup from dribbling-out). They form an interesting and eye-catching contrast to the brown of the Mesquite. The bowl is approximately 12 inches wide and 4 inches high. It is also finished in a natural Danish oil and then buffed and waxed to a high gloss.
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Family of three nested Mesquite bowls #06-A This is a beautiful set of three matching bowls turned from a single very large piece of Texas Honey Mesquite. This piece of Mesquite exhibits a large area of lovely and complex pattern of crossing and undulating linear elements often referred to as "quilted". In a polished, finished surface, this quilted pattern is almost iridescent. The larger bowl is 13 inches wide and 4 inches high. The wall is relatively thin at approximately 1/2 inch thick. The rim is gently cupped with a slight outward slope. The medium sized bowl is 10-1/2 inches wide and 2-1/2 inches high. The wall thickness is approximately 3/8 inches and the rim is also gently cupped. The smaller bowl is just under 8-1/2 inches wide and just under 2 inches high. The rim on this small bowl is a wide (1-1/4 inch), broadly cupped and deeply undercut to overhang the inner surface of the bowl. The inside edge of the rim is rounded to from a crisp bead. The inside diameter of the bowl, rim-to-rim, is just under 6 inches. Part of the beauty of these bowls is the matching character of the grain and other features that were present in the original Mesquite log and carries through into each bowl. The flowing, symmetrical pattern of the overall grain is consistent in each individual bowl. The beautiful quilted grain pattern is visible in large areas within each bowl. The "starburst" pattern of radial pith cracks (now stabilized and filled with coal-black epoxy) also carries through the entire set. The bowls can be rotated such that these features can be seen to align as they were originally oriented in the growing Honey Mesquite tree. I am very pleased with the way these bowls turned out. They have been finished with a natural Danish oil, then buffed and waxed to a very nice glossy shine. The surface of each bowl is almost sensually smooth.
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Mesquite Bowl 06-13 This is a lovely small and delicate pedestal bowl in Texas Honey Mesquite. The sides flare out sharply from the small, graceful pedestal foot. The pedestal foot itself flares out slightly to provide a firm base. The overall width of this bowl is 7 inches; the height is just over 3 inches. The wall thickness is a delicate-appearing, but sturdy 1/4 inch. The Mesquite grain is a beautiful broadly swirling but symmetrical pattern of honey brown colors. A number of thin to relatively thick ring and radial cracks were present in the wood before turning. These features are part of the natural characteristics of Mesquite and formed during its growth (rather than as drying flaws after the tree was harvested). The wood was too attractive to be consigned to the burn pile (or barbecue pit in our case), so the cracks were filled with a mixture of glue and Mesquite sawdust, and the bowl turned to the piece you see in the accompanying photographs. I think that it turned out quite nicely. Finishing inside and out included sanding to 600 grit, sealing with Danish oil and finally waxing and buffing to a soft, satin finish.
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Redbud Bowl 06-2 This is a large bowl turned from a portion of a Redbud tree. It is approximately 12-1/2 inches wide and 3 1/3 inches high, with a broad, low and pleasing profile. The inside shape closely matches the outside; at approximately 1/4 inch, the wall thickness is relatively thin for a bowl of this size. The color is a pleasant mixture of browns. Two small radial cracks were present in the rim during turning. These were reinforced and filled with CA glue and black epoxy when turning. In addition, several small holes from old (and long gone) borers were present in the lower portion and also filled with black epoxy. The bottom was completed with a crisp beaded ring foot. This bowl was well sanded and finished with Danish Oil, and then waxed and buffed to a soft satin shine. The bottom is signed and dated by the "artist".
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Mahogany wing-foot bowl 06-6 This nifty bowl was turned from square block of Mahogany. The corners of the block were shaped into down-turned wings to form the feet that support the bowl. It is 7 1/4 inches square and 1 1/2 inches high, with an internal circular bowl that is approximately 6 inches in diameter and 1 1/4 inches deep. The grain pattern of the Mahogany is basically linear and parallel with two sides of the bowl. However, the grain forms graceful curving patterns where it intersects the gently curved surfaces of the bowl. The colors are the rich red-brown of mahogany with a beautiful iridescent sparkle that appears to come from below the surface. Finishing of this bowl included sanding to 1000 grit, sealing with a natural Danish oil, then buffing and waxing to a very high gloss. The surface is sensually smooth.
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Live Oak Fruit Bowl 06-3 This is a relatively large fruit bowl turned from a Texas Live Oak tree. It is approximately 12-1/2 inches wide and just under 3.5 inches high. The grain patterns are dramatic and the colors are very pleasing shades of brown. One of the most distinctive features of this bowl is a tapered black stripe from the bottom of the bowl through the rim. That stripe is a band of black epoxy filling a barky gap between the diverging limbs of the Live Oak crotch. This gap was filled with colored epoxy at the time of rough turning and "turned-out" (pun intended) to be striking and attractive. I turned this bowl with a wide, flat and deeply undercut rim. The grain pattern is dominated by the two diverging branches, the pith of one of which is included in the side of the bowl. A series of subtle rays radiate out from the central portion of each limb. These are most distinctive on the outside of the bowl and below the rim on the inside. The grain pattern are very smooth and linear in the remaining portions of the bowl. The bowl was carefully and thoroughly sanded and finished with natural Danish oil, and then buffed and waxed to a very nice glossy shine. The surface is almost sensually smooth. It has been signed and dated by the artist (yes, that's me).
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Mesquite Bowl 06-15 I really like this one .... it is a shallow Honey Mesquite bowl or dish with a shallow, cupped rim. The rim is set off from the central bowl by a thin crisp bead. The color is the soft honey brown of our Texas Mesquite with a grain pattern that varies from broad and sweeping to tight and swirling. A delicate and very attractive pattern of grain-crossing growth lines are also present on one side of the bowl and visible from both inside and outside. These represent an area of "tension wood" and are due to stress due to an adjacent limb when the tree was growing. A number of small, now-healed but prominent ring and radial cracks (commonly referred to as "wind shake" and pith checks in Mesquite) are present on one side. They were formed in the Mesquite tree when growing and are now quite stable - another typical Mesquite "character feature". I used coal-black epoxy (for the larger ones) and CA glue (for the thinner ones) to reinforce and fill these old cracks. This bowl would make a nice dish to hold hard candy, or possibly a greeting card plate. It is 10 inches wide and 2 inches high, with a nicely-turned base approximately 3 1/4 inches across. It is also finished in a natural Danish oil and buffed and waxed to a smooth, satiny gloss.
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Mesquite Bowl 06-2 This is a beautiful large pedestal bowl in Honey Mesquite. The sides flare out boldly from the graceful foot or pedestal and the shape of the inside conforms well to the graceful outside. With a width of 11 inches and depth of 4 inches, this bowl would serve well as a very fancy salad bowl. The Mesquite grain is a beautiful tight and swirling pattern in light to dark honey brown colors. Numerous short and narrow, light brown "rays" cross-cut the grain in several areas to form a very nice "shooting star" pattern. One very thin healed crack cuts across the grain in the upper portion of the bowl. This was present in the wood when harvested and turned, was reinforced with glue during turning, and is quite stable. One very small, infilled bug hole is present in the bottom of the foot. All of these features are characteristic of Texas Mesquite. The pedestal base approximately 5 inches wide, making the bowl very stable for ordinary (or extraordinary) use. The walls are relatively thin, at just over 1/4 inch, making the bowl relatively light for its size. Finishing inside and out included sanding to 600 grit, sealing with multiple coats of polyurethane, and finally waxing and buffing to a moderate gloss.
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Small Black Cherry Bowl 06-1 This is a small, delicate bowl turned from a piece of Black Cherry. While delicate appearing with a wall thickness of ~1/16 inch, it is really quite sturdy. The overall size is 4 3/4 inches by 1 1/2 inches high. I turned a narrow and shallow groove just below the inside lip, to set off and define that thin rim. The color of the bowl is the very light to pinkish brown typical of fresh Black Cherry. It should turn to more of a reddish/cherry brown with age and handling (the "patina"). The bowl is hand sanded, sealed with Danish oil and then waxed and buffed to a moderately high gloss.
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Natural-edge Mesquite Bowl #31 This is a broad, relatively shallow, thin-walled natural edge bowl turned from Honey Mesquite. A thick band of Mesquite bark is present completely around the rim. The grain is prominent and forms a symmetrical pattern with the oval shape of the bowl. This bowl is approximately 8 by 10 inches wide (short and long axis) and 1.5 to 4.5 inches high (at the low sides and higher ends). It is finished in a natural Danish oil, then buffed and waxed to a very nice satin shine. I think that it looks very nice as a small fruit bowl.
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Maple wing-foot bowl 06-6 This gorgeous bowl was turned from thick, square block of lightly-spalted Maple. The corners of the block were shaped into down-turned wings to form the feet that support the bowl. It is a large bowl, with an overall size of 11 inches square and 2 inches high. The internal circular bowl is approximately 9 inches in diameter and 1 1/2 inches deep. The grain pattern of the Maple is basically linear and parallel with two sides of the bowl. However, the grain forms graceful curving patterns where it intersects the gently curved surfaces of the bowl. The colors are a nice soft brown with diffuse bands of grey and thin streaks of orange-brown and dark brown, all related to the delicate spalting of the wood. Finishing of this bowl included sanding to 1000 grit, sealing with a natural Danish oil, then buffing and waxing to a very high gloss.
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Mesquite Bowl #16 This is a relatively large bowl turned from spalted Honey Mesquite. It is 10.5 inches wide and 2.5 inches high. The grain forms a nice symmetrical pattern of light to dark golden brown. The bowl is marked by one distinct, soft black stripe which crosses the central portion of the interior and a second, less distinctive stripe. These shadows are iron stains created by oxidation of a long ago-placed fencing nails. On the outside of the bowl, the less distinctive stripe is centered on a small hole left by the old nail. The bowl contains two distinct cracks in the rim and upper portion. These were part of the wood blank before the bowl was turned, and were left as natural flaws rather than being filled. They are stable and not indications of damage by post-turning drying of the Mesquite. I believe that the features add to the natural beauty of the wood. This bowl was finished with a natural Danish oil, then buffed and waxed to a moderate gloss.
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Mesquite Burl Bowl #18 This is a graceful, thin-wall bowl turned from a portion of a Mesquite root burl, the underground portion of the Mesquite tree. The yellow sapwood, "barky bits" and circular grain closures are individual roots that radiated out at the base of the tree. It also has several, non-structural radiating cracks near the top of one side. This is truly a piece of "gnarley" Texas Mesquite with a beautiful tight and swirling grain pattern. The bowl is just over 6 inches wide and approximately 4.5 inches tall. The top of the bowl's lip is concave and sharply undercut to blend smootly into the thin walls. As with most of my work, it is finished in a natural Danish oil and then buffed and waxed to a high gloss.
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Mesquite Bowl #05-21 This is another shallow bowl or dish in Texas Honey Mesquite. It also has a small base that flares out sharply into the shallow body of the bowl. The walls are moderately thick and end with a cupped rim. It would make also a nice dish to hold hard candy. The grain is broadly oval around a pair of tight knots on one edge of the bottom. The color is the typical red-brown of Mesquite heartwood, but it also contains a band of black staining along and adjacent to an old crack which crosses the bottom of the bowl. This is an old, now-healed crack, in the Mesquite tree when growing and now quite stable - another Mesquite "character feature". The bowl is approximately 8.5 inches wide and 1.8 inches high, with a base approximately 2.5 inches across. It is also finished in a natural Danish oil and buffed and waxed to a smooth, satiny gloss.
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Mesquite Natural Edge Bowl 05-26 This is a graceful Mesquite bowl with a bark-free natural edge that has been enhanced by burning. It was turned from a crotch of a Honey Mesquite tree (a crotch being the point where two limbs diverge) . It is another crotch piece with an eye-catching grain pattern swirling around the centers of several branching limbs. The colors are light to dark brown below the contrasting black of the burnt rim. This bowl is 4.7 inches wide and 3.5 inches high. It is finished in a natural Danish oil and then buffed and waxed to a soft shine.
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Mesquite Bowl #05-27 This is a medium sized bowl with moderately thick walls and a deeply undercut rolled rim. The color is the typical strong red-brown of Mesquite heartwood. A sparkely pattern of small "rays" cross the Mesquite grain and are visible inside and out. One small tight knot is present on one side and a band of very thin, healed and black-stained checks extends across a portion of the inner wall. These checks are typical of the natural growth pattern of Mesquite and are quite stable. They were present when the wood was turned and have not changed since. The bowl is approximately 6 inches wide and 2.5 inches high. It was well sanded, finished with Danish Oil and waxed and buffed to a beautiful shine.
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Mesquite Bowl #05-25 This is another medium sized bowl in Texas Honey Mesquite. It has moderately thick walls and a narrow rounded rim with a beaded edge. The color is the strong red-brown typical of Mesquite heartwood. A small area of lighter brown sapwood with a "touch" of bark is present on one side. A scattered pattern of small, light-colored "rays" cross the Mesquite grain and are visible inside and out. A number of small and very thin, black-stained checks radiate out from the symmetrical center of the circular grain pattern on two sides sides of the bowl near the upper rim. These are radial "pith" cracks typical of the natural growth pattern of Mesquite and are quite stable. The bowl is approximately 7 inches wide and 3.5 inches high. It was well sanded, finished with Danish Oil and waxed and buffed to a beautiful shine.
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Mesquite "Flower Pot" Bowl 06-3 This is a thin-wall bowl or vase in spalted Texas Honey Mesquite. The overall shape resembles a tight-waisted clay flower pot. It has a small base that flares out gently into a deep bowl with steep sides just below the rim. The inside form matches the outside with a wall thickness of approximately 1/8 inch. The grain is the usual tight and swirling pattern in golden brown Mesquite heartwood color. It has a short, thin dark brown bark inclusion at and below the rim on one side. This is common in Mesquite and is part of the natural growth pattern. It is quite stable, being present when the wood was turned and has not changed since. The bowl is approximately 6 inches wide and 4 inches high, with a base approximately 2.5 inches across. It was well sanded, sealed with a natural Danish oil, and then buffed and waxed to a smooth, soft gloss.
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Mesquite Bowl 06-5 This is another thin-wall bowl in spalted Texas Honey Mesquite. It has a very small base that flares out sharply into a shallow thin-walled bowl. The shape of the inside faithfully follows the outside form. This bowl would do well as an attractive candy bowl or to hold a dried flower arrangement. The grain is the usual tight and swirling pattern common in Mesquite heartwood, in a soft honey brown color. A patch of yellow-sapwood and an enclosed, even smaller patch of remaining bark is present on one side of the rim. This bowl is marked by several small, thin, dark-stained "checks" or cracks in sides, two of which are quite prominent. These checks were in the Mesquite when growing and are stable (to be sure, they were reinforced with glue when turned); they add to the natural character of the piece. The bowl is approximately 7 inches wide and 2 1/2 inches high, with a base approximately 2 1/4 inches across. It is also finished in a natural Danish oil and buffed and waxed to a smooth, satiny gloss.
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Black Cherry Fruitbowl 05-7 This is a very nice medium-sized fruit bowl turned from Black Cherry with a white Maple base. It is approximately 10 inches wide and 2.7 inches high with a wide, cupped and undercut rim. It has a complex grain pattern in a soft reddish brown colors. The bowl is finished in a natural Danish oil and then buffed and waxed to a soft satin sheen.
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Osage Orange (?) Bowl This is a very nice, thin-wall bowl turned from a large piece of wood that appears to be Osage Orange (that's Bodark to you fellow Texans). I did not harvest the tree but recovered the cut-up trunk from the trash pile following Hurricane Rita. I initially thought it was Osage Orange due to its strong yellow color, but I am now unsure since it does not have the very dominant grain pattern common in Texas Bodarks. But regardless, it turned out (pun intended) to be a very nice bowl. This vessel is approximately 8 inches wide and 2.5 inches high and is a perfectly functional bowl (not just a "work of art"). lt has a graceful overall shape with a narrow shallow-cupped rim. The grain is a very attractive, broad symmetrical pattern in golden yellow colors. An area of thin but tight bark inclusion is present at and below the rim on one side. Finishing included sanding to 600 grit and sealing with multiple coats of food-safe polyurethane.
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Black Cherry Bowl #05-1 This is a very nice bowl turned from a Black Cherry tree. It is a delicate, thin-walled vessel just over 5.5 inches wide and 1.5 inches high. The colors are very light to dark browns in a swirling grain pattern. The bowl is hand sanded, sealed with Minwax 209 and then waxed and buffed to a high gloss.
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Chinese Elm #05-1 This is an excellent bowl turned from a Chinese Elm. It has a gracefull vessel with an in-turned rim. It is just under 6 inches wide and 2 inches high. The colors are very light to dark browns with the darker brown heartwood crossing the bottom of the bowl in an "hourglass" pattern. The center of the limb, the pith, is marked by very dark brown/black star-like features. The bowl is hand sanded, sealed with Minwax 209 and then waxed and buffed to a moderate gloss.
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Black Cherry Bowl #05-2 This is another nice bowl turned from a Black Cherry tree. lt has graceful overall shape with a narrow shallow-cupped rim and colors of very light to dark browns in a swirling grain pattern. The size is 6 inches wide and just under 2 inches high. The bowl is hand sanded, sealed with Minwax 209 and then waxed and buffed to a high gloss.
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Chinese Elm #05-2 This is another excellent bowl turned from a Chinese Elm. In this case, it has an outwrd flaring rim. It is approximately 6.5 inches wide and just over 2 inches high. The colors are very light browns of the Elm sapwood to dark browns in the heartwood, with a strong swirling grain pattern. The bowl is hand sanded, sealed with Minwax 209 and then waxed and buffed to a moderate gloss.
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Live Oak #05-2 This is a very attractive bowl turned from a portion of a Texas Live Oak tree. It is approximately 5.5 inches wide and 3 inches high. The grain pattern is a broad swirling pattern of light and dark brown colors and is vertically crossed by hundreds of bright oak "rays". Two areas of dense, yellow to dark brown/black spalting are present on opposite sides of the lip. I have also turned two black, crisp grooves around the outer side of the lip. The bowl is hand sanded to 1000 grit, finished in a natural Danish oil and then buffed and waxed to a high gloss.
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Crepe Myrtle Bowl #05-1 This is an attractive bowl turned from a portion of a large Crepe Myrtle tree. It is a delicate, thin-walled vessel just under 5 inches wide and 2.5 inches high. The color is a very light beige with a faint but swirling grain pattern. Two crisp black-burnished grooves are incised around the lip. The bowl is hand sanded, finished in a natural Danish oil and then buffed and waxed to a high gloss.
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Crepe Myrtle Bowl #05-2 This is an attractive small bowl turned from a portion of a large Crepe Myrtle tree. It is a delicate, thin-walled vessel approximately 4.5 inches wide and 2 inches high. The color is a very light beige colors with a faint but swirling grain pattern. A crisp black-burnished groove is incised around the lip. The bowl is hand sanded, finished in a natural Danish oil and then buffed and waxed to a high gloss.
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Sycamore Bowl 05-3 This is a another nice bowl turned from the same spalted Sycamore log as Sycamore Bowl 05-2 above. lt has a graceful, flaring high-sided shape with very thin walls. The colors are an attractive light to golden brown color with areas of darker browns associated with spalting around the core of the original log. It is a bit of a character bowl in that it was turned green and allowed to deform slightly as it dried - thus it exhibits gently warped sides and rim. This bowl is just under 8 inches wide and 4 inches high. It was finished by sanding to 600 grit, sealing with multiple coats of Dainish oil and buffing to a soft warm shine.
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Maple Bowl 06-1 This is a very nice, thin-wall bowl turned from a piece of hard Maple. The grain is a beautiful swirling pattern of light and dark brown colors with an almost iridescent pattern of crossing ray flecks which are intermittently visible as you rotate the bowl in a strong light. The size is approximately 5 1/4 inches wide and 1 3/4 inches high; it is another perfectly functional bowl. Finishing included sanding to 600 grit, sealing with Danish Oil and then buffing and waxing to a very nice, soft luster. Fully cured, this finish is perfectly food-safe.
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Maple Bowl 06-2 This is a very nice, thin-wall bowl turned from a piece of Maple. The grain is a satisfying symmetrical pattern centered on a "bullseye" in the bottom side of the bowl. It's size is approximately 6 3/4 inches wide and 2 inches high; it is another perfectly functional bowl. Finishing included sanding to 600 grit, sealing with Danish Oil and then buffing and waxing to a very nice, soft luster. Fully cured (<2 weeks), this finish is food-safe.
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Maple Bowl 06-3 This is another very nice, thin-wall Maple bowl. It has a very distinctive, outward-flaring rim that makes for a good grip when picking it up with one hand. The size of this bowl is approximately 5 1/2 inches wide and 2 inches high. It has been sanded to 600 grit, producing a sensually smooth surface. Finishing included Danish Oil sealing followed by buffing and waxing to a very nice, soft luster. Fully cured (<2 weeks), this finish is food-safe.
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Mahogany Bowl #06-4 This is a very beautiful bowl with a deeply rolled and undercut rim. The color is a soft reddish brown with a strong iridescence pattern in a strong light. This "in-depth" reflective quality made the bowl appear almost "frosted" in the initial photography. This bowl was turned in imported African Mahogany (yes - seriously foreign wood!) and is approximately 8 inches wide and 2.5 inches high. It does have a single thin and tight crack on one side that was present in the wood when turned. This crack was further stabilized with glue during turning and now appears to be sound. The bowl is finished in a natural Danish oil and then buffed and waxed to a very high gloss.
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Maple #06-5 This is a very graceful small bowl turned in soft Maple with a flat and sharply-undercut rim. It is approximately 5 3/4 inches wide and 1 3/4 inches high. The grain is a an attractive, generally linear pattern in soft light brown colors. Two small, tight juvenile knots are present (one on the bottom, the second on one side). The knot on the bottom has a small dark brown bark inclusion on the outside of the bowl. An interesting area of grain offset with an associated yellow stripe is present on the outside. This appears to be another small juvenile limb that lies at low angle to the side of the bowl. This bowl is also finished in a natural Danish oil and then buffed and waxed to a very high gloss.
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Osage Orange or "Texas Bodark" Bowl #06-4 This is another very nice, medium-size bowl turned from Texas Bodark (known as Osage Orange outside Texas). The colors are the strong golden brown of Bodark heartwood with a wide band of cream-colored sapwood on opposite, outer sides and across the bottom. This bowl is 7 inches wide and 2-1/2 inches high. The rim is a narrow cupped surface atop nearly vertical, thin-walled sides. It is finished in a natural Danish oil, then buffed and waxed to a very nice glossy shine.
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Mahogany Bowl 06-7 This is a simple, medium-sized bowl in African Mahogany (yes - a seriously "foreign" wood!). The color is a soft reddish brown with a strong iridescence pattern in a strong light. This bowl is approximately 6 inches wide and 2 inches high. It does have a single thin and tight crack and several smaller cracks across one half that were present in the wood when turned. These cracks were stabilized with glue during turning and now appear to be sound. The bowl is finished in a natural Danish oil and then buffed and waxed to a soft satin shine.
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Mississippi Cypress Bowl #06-1 This is a very nice large bowl turned from Cypress wood that I acquired from a friend in Pascagoula, Mississippi. It is a little under 11 inches wide and just over 4 inches high. It has a smooth and symmetrical grain pattern with a soft golden brown color. An interesting patch of reddish-grey and brown color within an area of circular grain on the outside of the bowl is the remains of a bit of sapwood. This is a substantial bowl with generous 1/2 inch thick upper walls that thicken to more than 3/4 inch near the base to provide stability during use. The bowl blank was cut close to the pith and a pair of thin, tight radial pith cracks were present on opposite sides of the rim when it was on the lathe. Those cracks exhibit an interesting light spalting in the adjacent wood (the darker areas on both sides of each crack) and I chose to leave them intact rather than remove them during turning. During the drying stage (between rough and finished turning of the bowl) a number of long thin cracks developed in the outside of the bowl. These are tight and very shallow (they do not penetrate the inside of the bowl). They are now stable and not indications of on-going deformation. Finishing of this bowl included sanding to 600 grit, sealing with natural Danish oil, then buffing and waxing (Carnauba wax) to a satin finish. It should prove to be a very functional salad or fruit bowl.
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