Inspiration for this Manzanita Wooden Bowl comes from the early pottery of Native Americans. The wood features terracotta earth tone colors. The shape displays age and missing pieces from years of misuse. The size is 7 inches by 4 inches deep.
Manzanita is one of the most beautiful woods I work with as an artist. If organic forms are appealing to you will like this Manzanita Wooden Bowl.
Every Manzanita root burl displays a unique character. As a raw material it is quite ugly. There are bumps and scars along with dirt and rocks embedded in the surface. I have a theory that the uglier the wood the prettier the interior grain. It seems to be that way.
Manzanita is difficult to fabricate because it contains rocks and dirt. This requires that the cutting tools be sharp. It can be exhausting to form a piece like this Manzanita Wooden Bowl. The bark inclusions and open voids form weak spots that have pieces flying off the lathe. Fighting with each piece I am cursing this wood. Not until I complete the piece is there satisfaction. No doubt I will continue to punish myself in order to make items with this wood.
The wood comes from a California logger with a license to harvest Manzanita wood. After a wildfire permission is given to dig up the root balls of dead trees. Although the burls are expensive and highly sought after there is no other wood that yields such beautiful pieces. Here is another example of another Manzanita piece.
Studio
I design and produce all of my work in Montvale, New Jersey, USA. It is an honor to be able to create items that you may take into your home. Artists believe that a piece of them is in each item that they produce.
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