The Final Pass — Maple Bowl

Story / Provenance

The final operation on this Maple bowl carried its own risk. To finish the underside, the nearly completed piece had to be held from the outside by large jaws designed for that stage of the turning process.

A Facebook post made while the bowl was still in progress recorded the concern plainly: the final touches could not be taken for granted, and cleaning up the back side made the maker nervous. If the bowl shifted or came away from the jaws, the work already invested in it could be lost.

That moment gives The Final Pass its name. It is a modest part of the bowl’s history, but an honest one—the piece was not complete until one last uncertain operation succeeded.

About This Piece

Nearly six inches wide and three inches deep, this compact bowl has proportions suited to an individual salad, snacks, dry foods, or decorative use.

Natural grain and color variation move through the walls and interior. A closed, firm knot on the exterior is nearly flush with the surrounding wood and does not pass through the wall. A much smaller knot remnant on the underside leaves a slight localized recess without affecting how steadily the bowl sits.

The exact Maple species and original source are no longer documented, so the wood is identified simply and accurately as Maple.

Details

• One-of-one hand-turned Maple bowl
• Approximately 5-15/16 inches wide × 3 inches high
• Bare weight: just under 11 oz
• Finished with Mahoney’s walnut oil
• Final paste wax contains walnut oil, beeswax, and carnauba wax
• Intended for individual salads, snacks, dry foods, or decorative use
• Not intended for soup or holding liquids
• Hand wash and dry promptly
• Do not soak or place in a dishwasher
• Finished but unsigned underside