Amboyna Burl Shot Glass (Hand-Shaped, Stabilized)
Dimensions: Approx. 3 1/4" tall × 1 1/2" diameter
This shot glass was hand-shaped from stabilized Amboyna Burl using an angle grinder, sanding blocks, and carving tools—no lathe involved. Every curve was coaxed through direct contact, guided by feel rather than rotation. The result is a vessel that’s tactile, intuitive, and unmistakably handmade.
Amboyna Burl is revered for its fiery grain and dense figure, and this piece showcases that drama in full: swirling patterns, deep reds, and chatoyant highlights that shift with the light. Stabilization ensures the wood’s structure remains sound and its visual complexity preserved, allowing the burl’s natural brilliance to shine without compromise.
This particular block was part of a large commission—nearly three dozen turning blanks provided by a client for a custom order. Dan completed the work and kept the remaining pieces as payment, identifying each species himself. That experience helped build a working library that now spans approximately 68 different wood species and variations.
Finished with polymerized walnut oil, beeswax, and carnauba wax, the surface is smooth, sealed, and ready to serve. It’s a vessel born of grit, curiosity, and a growing catalog—where every grain tells a story, and every tool mark is part of the narrative.
