... This unique live-edge burl bowl sculpture is golden and brown with beautiful rich grain. It is 22” long, 18” wide, 11” tall, and weighs 15 lbs.
The beautiful salvaged Siberian black elm wood came from a 30” diameter, 60’ tall tree, approximately 80 years old. It fell in a severe winter ice storm in Oregon City, Oregon, and I was fortunate to acquire 30 amazing pieces for carving.
... I began work on this sculpture while the wood was still curing and continued off and on for 27 months using a combination of both aggressive and delicate power tools combined with fine hand tools and tons of sandpaper. Some splits and cracks were strengthened and sealed with a sawdust epoxy mix. The wood on the final bowl was sealed with a special finish, then the outside was coated with a smooth satin oil-based finish and the inside was coated with a food-safe wax/oil finish. The bowl can hold and display anything but liquids or very moist items.
... This fine art piece is truly unique and will always generate warm smiles and appreciative comments. I hope it becomes a treasured family heirloom.
Care of your Valuable Art piece:
1. The beauty of your art piece will best be maintained by periodically gently removing dust with a very soft brush on a vacuum cleaner, and perhaps occasionally rejuvenating the finish with a very light coat of Howard Butcher Block (a tasteless and odorless mix of food grade mineral oil & natural waxes) or, if it won't be holding food, Howard’s Feed-N-Wax (a blend of beeswax, Brazilian carnauba wax, mineral oil, and orange oil).
2. Your art piece should NOT be displayed in direct sunlight (no wood likes direct sun) because strong light will fade its rich colors.
3. Display this treasure where it will be protected from chemicals and moisture.
4. If you have specific questions, feel free to call or email me: rcpaulson@msn.com
... About Siberian Black Elm (Ulmus pumila)
Siberian Black Elm trees have a slippery, gooey sap that makes handling their wood a bit difficult and messy when it is green (not yet cured). If green, even the sawdust is a sticky, gooey mess. The wood itself is soft and not strong enough for lumber. However, its slightly reddish brown grain is quite attractive for art pieces and wood with burls is especially attractive.
The species is native to Asia and was introduced to the United States in the 1860s. In the U.S., it is often considered an invasive tree, particularly because it is extremely hardy and fast-growing. These trees are not recommended for use as an ornamental tree because limbs tend to break as they age.
Because of its high tolerance to extreme conditions (droughts, freezing cold, polluting city smoke, and poor soil) the tree is able to grow abundantly in locations where other trees cannot. In the Midwest and Great Plains regions of the United States, the Siberian elm has a reputation for invading pastures, stream banks, roadsides, and prairies, but it is also purposely used for windbreaks. It has been crossed with the American elm (U. americana) to produce an American elm-appearing hybrid that is resistant to Dutch Elm’s Disease.