How can you tell if a wood product is truly handmade? Between resellers misrepresenting their wares and big-box stores using it as a marketing buzzword, itโs easy to be misled by the word handmade.
If youโve ever wondered how to tell if a wood product is truly handmade, youโre not alone. In this post, weโll help you to spot the differenceโand make choices that reflect your values and appreciation for genuine craftsmanship.
What Does โHandmadeโ Really Mean?
At its core, handmade means a human beingโnot a machineโshaped, finished, and often designed the product. That doesnโt mean zero tools were used, but it does mean care, skill, and time were part of the process. A truly handmade wooden bowl or board will carry small signs of the artisanโs touch: subtle variations in shape, unique wood grain patterns, and finishes that reveal the natural beauty of the material rather than hiding it.
Signs That a Wood Product Was Mass-Produced
Before you take home with a piece of wood kitchenware, look for these:
- Plastic-like finish: A thick, shiny coating can indicate industrial-level production and may obscure the woodโs natural feel.
- Lack of variation: Handmade items embrace the unique grain, color shifts, and imperfections of the wood. If a product looks too โperfect,โ it might not be the real thing.
- No artisan name or brand story: True artisans stand behind their work. If thereโs no trace of who made it or how it was made, itโs worth questioning.
What to Look For in Truly Handmade Wood Products
Handcrafted wooden goods often have subtle cues that reflect the makerโs process and pride:
- Unique variations: No two pieces are exactly alike. You may see slight asymmetries or beautiful irregularities that make each item one-of-a-kind.
- Visible wood grain and tool marks: Handmade items often showcase the woodโs character. You might even see tool marks that tell the story of how it was shaped.
- Natural finishes: Artisans typically use food-safe oils or waxes to protect the wood while highlighting its natural texture.
- A makerโs story: Whether itโs a signature, a brand tag, or a description of the process, handmade pieces usually come with contextโand passion.
Still Not Sure If Something Is Handmade or Mass-Produced?
Still not confident that the โhandmadeโ item you added to your cart is really handmade? Here are some additional tips and tricks to help you sleuth out the truth:
- Use Google Reverse Image Search: If you suspect that a mass-produced item is being resold as โhandmade,โ Googleโs Reverse Image Search function can help you see if the item is being sold elsewhere.
- Look to social media: A brandโs social media presence will quickly give you a sense of the artisans and their process.
- Check out the product line: A reseller might offer everything from wooden to knit to leather to metal items, but a true crafts person is most likely to be a specialist dedicated to honing their craft.
Why It Matters
When you choose a handmade wood product, you’re not just buying a bowl or board. You’re supporting sustainable practices, small-batch artisanship, and the preservation of traditional woodworking techniques. Handmade pieces are often made with reclaimed or responsibly sourced wood, adding even more value to your purchase.
The Spencer Peterman Difference
At Spencer Peterman, we donโt just say handmadeโwe live it. Every bowl and board we offer is turned by hand from locally fallen trees in New England. Our wood is salvaged from logs that would otherwise be burned, chipped, or left to decay. Instead, we give them a second life as beautiful, functional kitchenware.
We believe in embracing the imperfections of each tree. Thatโs why youโll find spalted patterns, asymmetrical shapes, and natural edges that tell a story. Each product is crafted by our small team of skilled artisans in our Massachusetts workshop using techniques that honor the woodโs integrity, not mask it.
In a world full of mass-produced lookalikes, authenticity matters. When you choose Spencer Peterman, youโre choosing craftsmanship, sustainability, and timeless beautyโone bowl at a time.