Norfolk Island Pine Hollowform

Are the knots naturally red or did you use dyes? They are a nice touch either way.

Yes, the eyes are always red. If you put a light inside they glow.

This is a beauty, Richard. It almost looks human, staring at me!

That is very interesting Richard, I wonder why that is.

Well Marshall, It has to do with the nature of the tree. On a Norfolk Island Pine the branches grow out horizontally, roughly at the same level and roughly equally spaces around the circumference. Compared to the trunk the limbs are very different. The heart wood is red and very hard. (this makes turning it a bit of a challenge) Because the red heart wood is so dense a light inside the vessel makes the knots appear to glow. while the light doesn't seem to penetrate the rest of the vessel. Of course it must be turned thin enough to allow this to happen.