This might not be your idea of a "bowl", it's more of a functional piece of art. Crafted from American Hornbeam, a strong wood because it grows slowly. Close-grained, and this piece has so many variation of the grain that Mother Nature created, and Ed coaxed into beauty. It also is a "live edge" piece. A bowl that can be handsome sitting empty, or useful holding fruit or nuts.
These are hand-made wooden bowls, created one at a time from local trees, in Ed Hoovler's Monson workshop. From the time a tree is identified as a possible source of interesting, useful, well-crafted bowls to the end of the finishing and buffing process, nearly a year passes. The wood is shaped, set off to dry for 6+ months, given its final shape, hand-sanded in a 10-step procedure, finished in a 6-step technique and, finally, buffed in three-step operation. Theses bowls are meant to be used and are easy to maintain. Wash in warm soap and water, then dry with a soft cloth. Do not soak and do not use in a microwave. When the finish becomes dull over the course of time, renew with a liberal hand application of mineral oil, allow to sit for 30 minutes, then polish with a soft cloth.
Bowl #11
