Yakisugi Bowl from Rippled Ash 

Size - D 19.5cm x H 9.5cm 

Finish - Tung Oil and Waxes 

An iteration on a shape I have really enjoyed exploring. A very simple and angular design set off the surface with a small ring shaped foot. A thin rim gives a feeling of delicacy but I have left a little weight in the base to lower its centre of gravity. 

The thin walls make it very tricky to burn. I have had many pieces like this fail so I was delighted when this one turned out so well. 

Sourced from a tree in our woodland that had to be felled for safety reasons a year ago. 

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