Mappa Burl Blue Shot Glass #1

The Forgotten Current — Dyed Blue Mappa Burl Shot Glass

Dimensions: ~2‑3/4 inches tall × 1‑3/4 inches diameter

Hand‑turned from Mappa Burl (Populus nigra), this shot glass carries the rare and chaotic beauty of burl wood formed in the European Black Poplar—a cousin to the cottonwoods and aspens familiar across North America. Mappa Burl is prized for its swirling grain, clusters of “eyes,” and irregular textures that make each piece unpredictable and unique. Though relatively soft and easy to shape, it is notoriously difficult to finish, requiring extended stabilization to prevent cracking or warping. That process, though demanding, preserves the burl’s intricate figure and prepares it for transformation.

Dyed in deep blue, the wood reveals a visual rhythm of oceanic swirls, dark eddies, and tonal gradients that feel like motion captured midstream. The dye interacts with the burl’s natural voids and contours, creating marbled surfaces that evoke tide pools, riverbeds, and submerged memory. Compact yet balanced, this vessel embodies the spirit of discovery—its name, The Forgotten Current, reflecting the way color and grain flow together like a river rediscovered.

Finished with polymerized walnut oil, beeswax, and carnauba wax, the surface is smooth, food‑safe, and softly lustrous. Stabilization ensures durability while preserving the wild elegance of the burl’s figure. More than a functional glass, this piece is a small vessel with a big story—one of patience, chemistry, and the artistry of revealing what lies beneath.