This small bowl was turned from a pair of book-matched pieces of the the Wye Oak, Maryland's most famous White Oak tree. This venerable tree stood proudly on the Eastern shore of Maryland for more than 450 years before it was blown over during a severe thunderstorm on June 6, 2002. Its weight was estimated to be in excess of 200 tons, measured 31'8" in circumference, was 96' tall and had a 119' crown spread. This tree was 100 years older than the state of Maryland!
The tree was in pretty bad shape before it fell. It was loaded with insect and disease damage, structural defects, restoration artifacts including concrete (mixed with asbestos), steel cable, eyebolts, and insecticides. Less than 1% (excluding the bole) was considered usable for conversion into sawn boards.
The state of Maryland commissioned the McMartin & Beggins Furniture Makers company to craft a hand-made desk for the Governor's office. Prime boards went toward that project. Much of the rest laid out in an open field for a couple of years and suffered the consequences. I was able to secure a small limb through the Chesapeake Woodturners that was mostly punky with many splits. After carefully removing small slices of the rotten wood with my bandsaw I was able to salvage enough solid wood to make this small bowl.
For further information:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/naturalresource/fall2002/wyeoak.html
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2002/2002-06-07-md-oak-tree.htm
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/publications/wyeoak/
If you are interested in a very interesting microscopic analysis of the Wye Oak and general background information on the oak family, check out this link:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/publications/wyeoak/preservation_analysis.pdf
Base: 1 7/16" dia
Height: 1 3/8"
Diameter: 5 15/16"
