Ambrosia maple (silver maple that had been infected with ambrosia beetles) is a nice carving wood. I turned the blank from green wood last year and started the carving over winter break. The areas where there are markings are a bit more dense and harder to carve and sand. 8.5 X 11 X 10.75 inches (H X W X D). I made the glass stand for this in the hot shop (sculpting hot glass).