The Gator — Florida Spalted Live Oak Shot Glass

Story / Provenance

Longtime friends gathered this Florida Live Oak near St. Augustine while vacationing there. After being asked to watch for an interesting piece of Florida wood, she made finding one part of the mission. The wood appeared recently cut when collected and traveled several hours home with them.

It remained in a plastic grocery bag through at least a month or two of Florida summer heat and was eventually mailed in that same bag. When it reached the shop, the retained moisture was palpable and the spalting appeared unusually advanced for such recently cut wood. Based on experience with other woods, the enclosed heat and moisture seem to have hastened the process, although the exact progression cannot be known.

Previous pieces made from this batch stayed with the friends who gathered it or with the maker. The Gator is the first piece from the wood offered for sale.

Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is recognized as the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European and African American origin in the United States. Spanish, British and American authority have each shaped the city during its long history. Explore St. Augustine’s history.

About This Piece

Deep brown lines and forms move through the lighter amber and honey-colored wood. One dark natural figure can be seen abstractly as a gator making its way upstream, inspiring the name. It is solid wood—not an open inclusion—and remains smooth and level with the surrounding surface.

Live Oak also has a deep connection to Florida’s maritime history. Its dense, strong timber was prized for wooden ship construction, including USS Constitution. In 1828, the United States established the Naval Live Oak Reservation near Pensacola to preserve the species for future naval use. The National Park Service also tells this story at Fort Matanzas, just south of St. Augustine, giving the wood’s history a meaningful connection to the place where this piece began. Learn about Southern Live Oak at Fort Matanzas.

Against that history, the dark natural figure that suggested a gator moving through lighter wood feels particularly at home.

The tall cylindrical form measures 5½ inches high by 1¾ inches in diameter. Its traditional interior bore extends approximately 3⅞ inches. A slight inset about one-third of the way down the interior wall records a correction made while turning. Smoothing that localized area preserved the surrounding wall thickness. It is structurally sound and should not be mistaken for an internal Glencairn profile.

The wood was personally stabilized without dye, preserving its natural color. Polymerizing walnut oil and microcrystalline wax give the piece a smooth, distinctive feel while helping reduce visible fingerprints.

Details

• Species: Florida Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) — spalted
• Origin: Gathered near St. Augustine, Florida
• Character: Naturally dark gator-like figure with varied spalting
• Dimensions: 5½" H × 1¾" diameter
• Bore depth: Approximately 3⅞"
• Interior: Traditional shot-glass bore with a slight localized inset
• Stabilized: Yes
• Dyed: No; natural color
• Finish: Polymerizing walnut oil and microcrystalline wax
• Care: Hand wash only. Do not soak or place in a dishwasher. Follow the Gentry Crafted FAQ before applying any additional finish.
• One of one: This exact piece only