Hand Carved Elm Oval Bowl

Description

I've been working on this one all month. Starting out with a 5 1/2 pound block of spalted Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubrum), this form emerged weighing in at 1 1/8 pounds. Chips and dust are everywhere. Elm is an unstable wood that changes shape as it dries. For this reason it is rarely used for furniture making. I dried this piece as I carved and had to make corrections as it moved. No splits or checks, but there are a few bug holes on one end. The bugs are long gone.

It measures 10 1/2 inches across the handles and 8 inches across. It stands 3 inches tall.

Finished with mineral oil and beeswax, it is food safe. Easily maintained with a light coat of oil periodically.

Added on Sep 27, 2009