There are pieces of wood that arrive in my workshop already carrying a kind of wild poetry, and this red beech burl was one of them. Burl is rare by nature—an unpredictable growth where the tree twists its grain into knots, eyes, and swirling patterns. But red beech burl from New Zealand is rarer still. I don’t come across it often, and when I do, I treat it with the same respect I give to any material that feels truly one‑of‑a‑kind.
This particular pieces was recovered on a beach close to Wellington, and judging by the number of little pebbles embedded in the wood, it had been on a heck of a journey before arriving at my bench. Wood like this is exceptionally hard on my tools, I have to try and remove as many of the little pebbles and rocks as I can because they eat my saw blades and destroy my gouges, even taking chips out of the Munro Tungsten Carbide cutting cups I use for hollowing. But the end results, as you can see, are worth the effort!
This burl had an extraordinary presence from the start: small natural holes, clusters of “eyes,” and a deep reddish hue that shifts between warm copper and soft rose. As I turned it in my Carcassonne atelier, the wood revealed its character slowly, almost shyly. Burl behaves differently under the tool—dense in one moment, soft in the next—and it demands patience, intuition, and a willingness to follow its lead. These are lessons I first learned at École Escoulen, where the relationship between maker and material is at the heart of artistic woodturning.
The bowl’s edge is intentionally irregular, shaped by the natural contours of the burl. Rather than forcing symmetry, I allowed the wood’s organic nature to guide the final form. The thin walls give the piece a sense of elegance and lightness, contrasting beautifully with the complexity of the grain. It’s a handmade wooden object that feels both sculptural and functional, a piece of collectible wood art that can be used every day.
Red beech burl is prized by artisans and collectors for its rarity and its dramatic figure. No two burls are ever alike, and this one carries patterns that seem almost alive—swirls, eyes, and shifting tones that change with the light. Finished with a natural blend of beeswax and grapeseed oil, the surface remains ecological, tactile, and warm. There is no plastic, no synthetic varnish—only a natural finish that honours the organic nature of the wood.
Whether you fill it with fruit or keep it as a sculptural centrepiece, this bowl brings a sense of quiet luxury and wild beauty into your home. If its character resonates with you, I invite you to explore the other rare timbers I’ve had the privilege to turn.
Diameter: 25cm Height: 8cm Weight: 430g
