Cherry Platter

[Steve Saah]

This is the second in a series of similar platters. Done with India ink on the rim and foot. 16” - 17” in diameter.

@Ed Davidson - Notice anything that looks familiar? Thanks again!

 

[Mark Hepburn]

Wow. Just, wow!

 

[Curt Fuller]

Fantastic! What a beauty!

 

[Matt Fletcher]

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL, Steve!!!

 

[John Redding]

That’s a great platter, Steve. Very nicely done, and I really like the color combinations.

 

[Ted Pelfrey]

Wow!!! That yellow and black look amazing against that cherry!

 

[Nate Hawkes]

It looks great! Did you do anything to treat the cherry to darken the color? Or was the color always so red? I have been meaning to grab some blueprinting ammonia and experiment with cherry. It has a spectacular effect on black locust and oak.

 

[Steve Saah]

It looks great! Did you do anything to treat the cherry to darken the color? Or was the color always so red? I have been meaning to grab some blueprinting ammonia and experiment with cherry. It has a spectacular effect on black locust and oak.

Hey Nate,

Thanks for the note. The cherry turns with age and natural light, so no there wasn’t anything specific I did to it. It takes me awhile to get one of these done as I have a day job, so during the course of completing it the platter just naturally darkens and develops the patina.

 

[Nate Hawkes]

Hey Nate,

Thanks for the note. The cherry turns with age and natural light, so no there wasn’t anything specific I did to it. It takes me awhile to get one of these done as I have a day job, so during the course of completing it the platter just naturally darkens and develops the patina.

Well it is superbly colored. Concentrated ammonia will greatly accelerate the process. It darkens locust to an olive green, cherry to the deep red brown your piece has, and it turns oak into brown just like european oak or stickley furniture. I'll post some pictures if I ever get more. It requires ammonia-specific cartridges for your respirator but is worth it to try. I'll post pictures if I get some more of it.

 

[R Henrickson]

Well it is superbly colored. Concentrated ammonia will greatly accelerate the process. It darkens locust to an olive green, cherry to the deep red brown your piece has, and it turns oak into brown just like european oak or stickley furniture. I'll post some pictures if I ever get more. It requires ammonia-specific cartridges for your respirator but is worth it to try. I'll post pictures if I get some more of it.

There is no need to use concentrated ammonia for fuming. Household ammonia works very well, without the dangers of concentrated ammonia. Just a bit of stink. I have fumed a lot of white oak, and some other woods. 24-48 hours will do it -- with effects penetrating well below the surface. A plastic tote and a cup of household ammonia does the trick, without the hazards.

 

[Darryl Fective]

Awesome looking piece! I love the pattern and colors.

I experimented with some household ammonia and some small white oak bowls. I used a large stainless pot with a clear lid and just enough ammonia to cover the bottom. I put something in the middle to set the bowl on, then I could watch the fumes change their color. It was interesting to me that green/wet pieces took only minutes, while dried wood took 24+ hours for the same effect.