{"product_id":"the-gator-florida-spalted-live-oak-shot-glass","title":"The Gator — Florida Spalted Live Oak Shot Glass","description":"\u003ch3\u003eStory \/ Provenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLongtime 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrevious 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFounded 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. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.citystaug.com\/693\/Our-History\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eExplore St. Augustine’s history.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout This Piece\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDeep 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLive Oak also has a deep connection to Florida’s maritime history. Its dense, strong timber was prized for wooden ship construction, including \u003cem\u003eUSS Constitution\u003c\/em\u003e. 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. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/foma\/learn\/nature\/oak.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eLearn about Southern Live Oak at Fort Matanzas.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgainst that history, the dark natural figure that suggested a gator moving through lighter wood feels particularly at home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpecies:\u003c\/strong\u003e Florida Live Oak (\u003cem\u003eQuercus virginiana\u003c\/em\u003e) — spalted\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Gathered near St. Augustine, Florida\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCharacter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Naturally dark gator-like figure with varied spalting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5½\" H × 1¾\" diameter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBore depth:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approximately 3⅞\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInterior:\u003c\/strong\u003e Traditional shot-glass bore with a slight localized inset\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStabilized:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDyed:\u003c\/strong\u003e No; natural color\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Polymerizing walnut oil and microcrystalline wax\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand wash only. Do not soak or place in a dishwasher. Follow the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gentrycrafted.com\/pages\/faq\"\u003eGentry Crafted FAQ\u003c\/a\u003e before applying any additional finish.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOne of one:\u003c\/strong\u003e This exact piece only\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Gentry Crafted","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49074244550911,"sku":"GC-SG-FLO-GATOR-001","price":82.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0702\/2808\/2943\/files\/the-gator-florida-live-oak-hero_efbdc7fd-ed25-4a69-9cab-2c6c9c08b122.jpg?v=1789102856","url":"https:\/\/gentrycrafted.com\/products\/the-gator-florida-spalted-live-oak-shot-glass","provider":"Gentry Crafted","version":"1.0","type":"link"}