This table was created from a slab of Big Leaf Maple burl. Burls appear as growths or lumps on trees, and because the grain is tightly interlocked, burls tend to be quite stable. Thus, tabletops of burl slabs typically do not split and crack like many slabs. The grain pattern inside a burl is wonderously beautiful and has been used to decorate furniture for centuries. In this table, small natural voids were filled with turquoise stone. The inset wedge is black maple and the base is all maple. This finish is hand-rubbed oil, protected with a washcoat of blond shellac and finally, the entire top is waxed. The base and wedge are intended to emphasize, through contrast, the natural, non-linear character of burls.

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