Brown Ash Wooden Platter, 13-1 / 4" (PL26)

Beautiful wooden platter made from a local Colorado Brown Ash tree. I've only run across Brown Ash once in the last 15 years (most Colorado Ash trees are White Ash), and I thought I didn't have any more until I ran across this piece. Needless to say, I can't get more. Brown Ash has a darker tone to it than White Ash, and the sapwood is not as White. This piece of Brown Ash had a crack in the rim. I decided to leave the crack open instead of trying to fill it with something. To stabilize and secure the crack I used several Wenge "Pewa" or Butterfly patches. Pewa is a Hawaiian word meaning "tail of a fish". The Hawaiian's of old have used Pewa to repair bowls and vessels for hundreds of years, and to them when an item was repaired the item meant more to them or had higher value to them since the owner cared enough to have it repaired. The owner could continue to use that item for years instead of throwing it away. Only the most skilled craftsmen were allowed to repair items which no doubt added to the value. The Pewa patches strengthen the crack and keep the wood from moving or cracking any further. The repaired area is just as strong as the surrounding wood, but is also a decorative feature that now sets this platter apart from others! The dimensions are 13-1/4" diameter x 1-1/4" tall. The rim is 1-1/2" wide with the center recess being 10-1/4". The foot design is a large bead that is wide and stable, and an added benefit is the bead gives your fingertips something to hook onto for a secure grip. Finished with Odie's Oil, which is a food safe oil that doesn't have any toxic solvents, driers or hardeners. Odie's is so durable that it's also commonly used as a finish for wood flooring. If it can stand up to that then a platter is no problem. To me quality is not just in how the bowl is made or what type of wood is used, quality also means using the best finish you can if you want your bowl to last and look good for years. Use and care instructions are provided.