Strawberry Wood Traditional Tree

A cute little traditional-style tree, 8cm tall and 4cm wide, turned from strawberry tree wood (Arbutus unedo).

The wood was given to me earlier this year by my old neighbour, Jim, and I learned the hard way how much it warps. I’ve rough-turned a few pieces that have since cracked and warped, so to date this is the only one that’s survived.

The strawberry tree gets its common name from its fruit: round, red and knobbly, looking rather like a strawberry. The Latin unedo is traditionally traced back to Pliny the Elder, as “unum edo”, meaning “I eat one”. The usual reading is that the fruit is so bland you’d only want to eat one.

Finished with chestnut friction polish.