Koben Bowl in Oak with Yakisugi Finish

Adam Kester

Bird & Branch Turnery Co.

A beautiful piece of handmade contemporary design with a finishing technique that dates back millennia. This bowl is hand-turned from English Oak and once shaped, it underwent the ancient Japanese technique of Yakisugi. This involved scorching the outside with a 2000 degree flame to cause instant charring. An abrasive was then used to remove the thin layer of loose charcoal and the process started again. After the second charring the bowl was treated with a food safe blend of natural oils and waxes to seal it.

Some cracks and splits are evidence of the rapid moisture loss that takes place during the making of a Yakisugi piece. However, these are now stable and won’t get any larger.

Finished with a food safe blend of natural oils and waxes.