Spalted Maple Vase — Natural Abstract Art for Shelf or Mantel
A sold hand-turned spalted maple vase with dramatic black zone lines, a warm tung oil finish, and a sculptural form made for shelves, mantels, and entry tables.
In the home
Standing 9.5 inches tall with a 5.5-inch belly, this sold spalted maple vessel functioned as a sculptural art object for a mantel, bookshelf, or console table. Dark, ink-like fungal zone lines wind around pale maple heartwood, creating a graphic natural abstract pattern.
Designed for dry display, it makes an elegant vertical accent either holding dried botanicals or standing unadorned.
Wood, shape, and finish
Spalting in maple occurs when natural decay fungi create pigmented zone lines to divide territory within a fallen log. Hollow-turning a spalted blank requires sharp tools to cut cleanly across dense heartwood and softer spalted areas.
The vessel is turned with a smooth, swelling body that tapers gracefully into a small flared neck.
Finished with polymerized tung oil, the finish absorbs deep into the timber to highlight the black zone lines while leaving a soft, natural satin glow. Care requires gentle dusting with a soft, dry cloth.
Explore more
- What is Spalted Wood? explains how natural fungal zone lines form in maple.
- Why Polymerized Tung Oil Is My Favorite for Spalted Wood details finish choice for spalted timber.
- Browse all maple turning projects to see more spalted and figured maple turnings.