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Western Hemlock
Handmade, one-of-a-kind
excellent display piece or jewelry bowl
finished w/ food-grade Tung & citrus oil
made by Zach LaPerriere
Sitka, Alaska 2018
bowl measures 4 3/4" X 1 1/2"
When you have to pull out the microscope to count growth rings—you know it's an old piece of wood!
I rescued this tree from the ocean in front of my cabin in a storm about a year ago. It was incredible slow growing, and nowhere is this more visible than in the massive branches that still had needles attached when I towed it back the beach below the shop.
These little bowls have been popular for jewelry.
I take my time with these little bowls because they really are special. And please note: I'm discounting this bowl because it shows dark flecks on the outside. I don't personally find that this distracts from the bowl, but I'd rather give the benefit of the doubt.
The bowl has a silky smooth finish, finished with multiple coats of food-grade tung and citrus oil. I love how these little bowls feel in your hands.
This little bowl will serve equally well as a display bowl or for holding jewelry or small items like beach glass.
It's very dense, hard wood for a softwood species. Because it is crafted from a single piece of wood, it will last for generations with basic care.
The grain is incredible and the spalted patterning stops people in their tracks. Colorful silk napkins or rosy red fruits contrast beautifully with the exquisite grain. This bowl is ideal for a gorgeous, minimalist kitchen.
- written by Zach LaPerriere
“Look deep into Nature, and then you will understand everything better.” —Einstein
My job is to help you see deeper. As a forest artist, I custom-shape each vessel to show the story of an ancient wild Alaskan tree.
This vessel came from a tree that washed down a wild Alaskan river in a monsoon. After rescuing the tree from the ocean, I deliberately left cut rounds of wood in the forest near my studio for many months. Through careful monitoring, I selected rounds at the right moment when fungal activity had revealed the most amazing colors, but before the wood became compromised with rot.
The result is a natural process halted in time—one that otherwise would be invisible. While most makers fill spalted wood art with epoxy to make the wood easier to work with: I don’t. It took me several years to develop the skills to cut this wood cleanly without the use of epoxy, but I worked my tail off because I want to give you a natural product. I exclusively use natural, 100% food-grade finishes.
An amazing thing about spalted wood: these natural colors run through the wood naturally and have been proven to be the most stable colors on earth—far outlasting other organic and synthetic dyes. Spalted wood dyes can be found in European churches that are still bright after a thousand years!
Photographs cannot do justice to the natural interplay of contrasting colors and depth in this wood—and of course each bowl is shaped to feel perfectly balanced in your hands.
This vessel is designed for display on the mantel or table. It is fine for light use in holding special objects. Because it is crafted from a single piece of wood, it will last for generations with basic care.
We want to help you find that perfect piece for you. If you have anyquestions about this bowl (or any bowl for that matter) we want to help.
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Otherwise, pick up the phone and give us a shout: (907)747-5063.