Spalted Walnut Vase

This is the second vase from Ian’s walnut tree, and it was a very different beast to the first. The branch section was around 15 inches in diameter and three feet long — a serious piece of timber that pushed the lathe to its limits.

Unfortunately, the wood had developed a number of cracks during seasoning. I spent a fair amount of time working out the best orientation to avoid them, ultimately losing quite a bit of diameter. The spalting, however, was far more developed than the first vase — the fungi had been busy.

I took a different approach to the shape this time. Where CG-005 has a more classical profile, this one has a tighter waist and a more pronounced flare at the rim, giving it a slightly more contemporary feel.

The spalting patterns are extraordinary — pale patches where the fungal colonies have bleached the timber, contrasting with the rich dark heartwood. Every angle reveals something different.

The melamine lacquer brings out the depth of colour and gives a glass-like surface that does justice to the complexity of the grain. The swirling patterns in the neck are particularly striking.

At 35cm tall, this is the largest vase I’ve turned so far, and I’m very pleased with how the proportions came together. The spalting makes each face of the vase completely unique — it’s like having a different piece from every angle.