This cherry burl (9"D x 6.25"H) is one of many large burls that were attached to a hollow Cherry log that had lain out in the open for many years. Although the log was hollowed out by ants, the burl wood did not rot, it hardened and cracked until it had the density of stone. After removing this burl with some difficulty, I thought that it was too hard, too cracked and too difficult to cut to try to turn. I kept it in my studio for over a year and finally gave in and put it on the lathe.
The burl did not fly off the lathe or come apart and as I cut, a real eye opening beauty began to appear. I stopped thinking of the burl as wood and began to see it in terms of its journey. The many years out in the open had given it a wondrous reddish hue that went well with the swirled grain of the burl. I decided to polish the outside but to leave its many cracks alone to signify all it had been through. I filled the interior cracks with clear epoxy so that the bowl could hold something, I think pistachios would go well color wise.
