On a bowl which people will pass a rim is more than just decorative, it's a vital handle. This looks very much like one of those type. It's nice work.
Southern cherry is quite different-looking than our northern stuff. It's more than just the rate of growth it makes down low, as we discovered when my eldest bought a couple hundred BF last week. It doesn't have as visible a ray figure, or as much green striping between rings. Also has black specks in it when from the south, something that's rare here. Wondering if that difference is why people are always complaining about splits when drying, and I never have had a problem.