This handcrafted wooden Maple vase measures 9.5 x 5 x 5 and is priced at $345. Details include the artist’s delicate hand-carved design at the neck collar, a removeable glass tube for use with live flowers, and gorgeous spalt figuring, as well as wonderful maple wood figuring throughout the piece.

Hand-turned by a master turner in Jefferson County, Washington State. Forest Gems has a large collection of his fine work on display at our gallery, stop in if you can and check out all the incredible details.

Spalted (or “spalt”) wood is highly coveted among woodworkers due to its distinguished black wavy streaks and color variegation that give each hardwood piece an undeniable level of detail and visual appeal.

Spalted maple is highly sought after due to its unique and striking appearance. The spalting process creates beautiful, intricate patterns and color variations, adding character and visual interest, enhancing the organic look of the wood and creating a truly one-of-a-kind piece.

Spalting has been referred to as “chemical warfare” between competing fungi and bacteria. This happens to wood which has been available to these entities over a period of time, when the log is laying down on the forest floor, typically. This indicates generally that a spalted piece of wood is sourced from salvaging, and not clear-cutting.

As well as occurring in Maple, spalting can be found in other species, including Beech, Birch, Walnut, Redwood, and Poplar. Maple is the most popular and sought-after wood after Spalting, which is a result of its creamy color, that creates an ideal ‘canvas’ for the fungi to work its magic.