Gift for a Kapa Lele

[Pat Wisniewski]

The paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera, syn. Morus papyrifera L., Paperbark Mulberry) is a species of flowering plant in the family Moraceae. While in Hawaii we met a ‘Kapa lele’, an artist using traditional methods to create paper by carefully pounding (kapa) the bark of a young paper mulberry tree (wauke). I understand this is common to other areas, and known by other names, such as the paper made in this manner in Samoa.

I have a bowl in my collection made out of B. papyrifera by a friend and fellow woodturner in Los Angeles.
I shared the picture with the Kapa lele and she was excited to see such a large piece of paper mulberry, as most of those trees of that species in her area are harvested before they grow large enough to turn a good-sized bowl.

I am looking for a B. papyrifera blank so I can gift her a bowl. Does anyone here have access to any?

Thanks!

 

[Kevin Jesequel]

You might want to try asking on https://woodbarter.com/

 

[Don Wattenhofer]

You might want to take-up segmenting, which is something that can be done with fairly small trees, but is not an instant operation.
The pictures below show part of the process of preparing the material using buckthorn that was about 4-5" diameter.

The green lumber after being cut into 3/4" thick boards, stacked with stickers and left to dry for about 1 1/2 years.

The boards after being ripped to size, flattened on the jointer and sized th finish thickness on the drum sander.

This is a burial urn made from buckthorn segmented rings.