Yakisugi Bowl from Ash with an Ember Edge 

Size - D 35cm x H 7cm 

Finish - Tung Oil and Waxes 

An iteration on an old form, clean lines, simple and graphic. Set off the surface with a small ring shaped foot. Featuring some exquisite rippled grain. 

I’m returning to an ember edge detail for this piece but it wasn’t my original intention. Nearing the end of the burning process the edge cracked badly but determined to not waste this beautiful wood I changed my plans.

I set light to the rim so there is a glowing ember all around. After a period of time the ember eats into the wood creating this natural undulating detail and thus relinquishing control of a defined outcome. 

Treated with a food safe product however, I expect it will be enjoyed more for its sculptural qualities. 

Sourced from a 90 year old tree that had to be felled last year in our woodland. Unfortunately we have had a lot of problems with ‘ash dieback’ a disease which ash trees get. 

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 creative expression. 

‘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