Burl Wooden Bowls

Burl wooden bowls are rare. A burl forms when a tree grows in an unusual way, twisting the grain back on itself. That makes for patterns no one can predict. Turning a burl into a bowl always brings surprises, and the results are never the same twice.

At Spencer Peterman, each burl wooden bowl is sanded and finished until smooth in the hand, while the surface still shows the wild patterns of the wood. One side may carry dark swirls, another may hold tight knots, and together they make a piece that can’t be repeated.

These handmade wooden bowls are often treated as art, but they’re made to be used. Many owners keep them out on a table where the form and the grain can be seen every day.