Michael King, Bluewater, QLD

Sensual Silk
Silky oak (Carwellia sublimis)
400mm d x 275mm h

Materials
The timber used for this piece was an old silky oak (Carwellia sublimis) tree stump that my next door neighbour salvaged from his sons’ farm up near the Atherton Tablelands, where it had been resting on an embankment for many, many years. The tree stump was cut into large chunks and delivered to me in Bluewater (north of Townsville) on the back of his old ute. In the 20 or so years that I have been enjoying and working with timber as a self taught wood turner, this piece of timber is by far the most spectacular piece of silky oak I have ever seen. It displays some of the most beautiful and distinctive grain qualities from every angle, which caught my eye when finishing the piece. I believe this piece encapsulates one of the most beautiful timbers found in north Queensland, silky oak.

Method of Construction
This box was turned on a Nova 3000 lathe with an outrigger attachment from one solid piece of timber, the lid was parted off and a second bowl was cut out of the base with a bowl saver.

Glues None

Finish
The bowl was sanded on the lathe down to 400 grit, then U-Beaut EEE Ultra Shine was applied than finished using U-Beaut Shellawax Glow.

Concept
The original idea was to create a beautiful but functional fruit bowl with a lid to keep out the pesky fruit flies but once completed it has become a master piece that we use to present delicious dishes and salads to our guests. An added bonus is that the lid can be inverted and used separately as a bowl for serving dips and nibbles.

Photos: Steve Clarke