This style of bowl is known as "natural edge" or "live edge", due to the bark that remains along the rim. The bark gives the bowl a very rustic, all-natural, unique look. It was hand-turned on the lathe from cherry wood which was harvested locally from an orchard here in Merrimack, NH. These types of bowls are limited in availability due to the fact the they're ideally harvested only in winter months for the best chance of the bark staying on.
Finished with Danish Oil and then buffed with Carnuba wax, the bowl has a medium sheen and is food-safe (recommend dry foods only).
Signed, with year of make and wood species on the bottom.
HOW IT'S MADE
Natural edge bowls are turned from start to finish while the wood is still "green" (ie, it hasn't dried yet). Once the blank is cut, the bowl has to be completely turned all at once, as it begins to warp almost immediately, and can crack quite easily. Turning at very high speeds and with very sharp tools, one is able to cut cleanly through the bark while keeping the rim intact and not breaking off. Once it's turned to final shape, it is set aside to rest and finish drying - during the course of which, it will warp. By controlling the cuts of the grain, you can ensure that the bowl warps evenly. In this case, it warps so that the wings both extend outward and the lower edges of the rim bend inward slightly. The end result is a bowl with a rim that is more oval than round. Only after it's finished drying does the final sanding and finishing occur.
