HOLLOW FORM TURNED FROM BUCKEYE BURL

This hollow form has been turned from a fine piece of Buckeye Burl. Buckeye and related species are native to the eastern and western United States. Much of it comes from California, hence the botanical name of this species, Aesculus californica. The timber from California and Oregon is not particularly interesting underground, but once above ground, Buckeye burl more than makes up for this: the wood is soft, with a palette of grays, whites, blacks, and some brown and orange. This all comes from the oxidizing of underground minerals the burl has absorbed. The patterns that are generated by these colors are simply spectacular, like no other burl wood in the world. The variations and shapes in the figure are endlessly fascinating.

The walls of the hollow form have been turned to a very thin dimension—all through the half-inch hole at the center. It was finely sanded and sealed; after sealing, Danish oil was rubbed into the wood, followed by hand-rubbing with a combination of carnauba and beeswax in a light solvent. This finish has what I think is a very light and transparent quality.

4" dia  x  2"h