Yakisugi Bowl from Ash 

Size - D 40cm x H 9cm 

Finish - Tung Oil and Waxes 

A classic form, simple and graphic. Lifted off the surface with a ring shaped foot and gently curving underside.

For this collection I have played with grain orientation to change the feel of a piece. The clean and sharp form is softened by the visual effect of the grain within the bowl. The growth rings propagate out from the centre making loops and soft curves. 

Treated with a food safe product so would be perfect for a large salad or a fruit bowl perhaps. It would be equally comfortable being a decorative centrepiece. 

A tip for displaying. Position the bowl on a surface between you and a natural light source. As you move through the space the piece will reflect light off its surface revealing the grain. Works particularly well against a north facing window (if you are in the northern hemisphere). Avoid direct sunlight.

Sourced from a tree in our woodland that had to be taken down for safety reasons last year. 

I’m really trying to make the most of this ash wood while we still have it. As such I’ve continued working on these yakisugi pieces and they have come to be a bit of an obsession, really fueling my creativity in producing functional art. 

‘Yakisugi’ is a Japanese method of wood preservation using fire, dating back to the 18th Century and often used to treat the external wooden cladding of a building. 

Here I’m using Ash which has an open grain structure and the rapid springtime growth is far less dense than the later summer growth. This burns more easily and so when brushed down creates a beautiful texture all over the surface. 

After scorching, the pieces are meticulously burnished using a stiff brush, removing loose char and bringing the surface to a slight polish. 

 All pieces are stamped with my makers mark, a very subtle ‘H’ on the underside so as to not detract from the beauty of the object. 

- Tung Oil comes from a nut so please be aware if you have a nut allergy. 

- hand wash / wipe down only 

- do not let fruit rot in the bowl