Manzanita Burl Pen/Card Rest featruing an Ebony & Gun Metal Pen on a Shedua Base

Manzanita burl is prized by wood turners for its tendency to show an extreme display of unique grain and vibrant spectrums of color. The extreme and abusive nature of the of the environment, including wildfires, contributes to the dynamic and random nature of the grain.

This project and the previously posted beer tap are the first turnings I did with this material. I really had no particular plan in mind, I just spun a chunk of the wood and it turned into a small vase looking thing that imparts a drastic contrast with the Gaboon Ebony hand turned by Chuck Hill. The set is featured on a mild African shedua plank; this unique material is actually a “second” from the Maki board selection process. The more simplistic grain allows a better contrast with the manzanita.

The card rest was actually a scrap from squaring up the small chunk that I cut up to make the vase and the beer tap tip. I decided NOT to drill into or hollow out the vase as it just seemed cool to rest the pen against it. It got away from the normal centered look and went more modern/abstract.

Another “for fun” ... project …

-- Eric M. Saperstein, Master Craftsman www.artisansofthevalley.com