Why do I burn perfectly good wooden bowls?
Burning wooden bowls does seem a little crazy but it does several positive things.
A striking contrast to the natural wood
One of the most obvious is that it creates a striking contrast between the burnt wood and the unburnt areas, this contrast actually makes the unburnt natural wood more striking and noticeable sitting on the kitchen table.
Brings out the personality in the wood
In the burning process you add a terrific amount of heat which in turn rapidly removes a whole lot of moisture from the wood which encourages movement and texturing in the figure wood of the bowl.
The burning process also erodes some of the softer wood in between the harder growth lines.
Both of these effects bring out the woods personality. Which is something I’m very passionate about.
A traditional way to preserve wood
This burnt black exterior forms a natural lifelong protection for the wood. The same way as the traditional Japanese process of Shou Sugi Ban.
Emphasizing the form
I do also find for the right piece that removing the coloration of the wood helps to focus the eye on the form and texture that remains.
The process of burning wooden bowls
The process of burning wooden bowls has taken a lot of experimentation to find just the right way to achieve the desired look WITHOUT destroying the peace in the process.
Once the bowl has been fired, quenched and then left to dry again. It is rubbed down with a stiff bristle brush to remove all the loose burnt material, lightly sanded, oiled and then finally burnished to produce the rich black finish.
Firing artistic pieces
For my artistic pieces, burning can be taken to a more extreme, effectively passing the final decision over the shape of the piece back to the gods of destruction.
Just like wood turning itself where you start with a lump of wood and progressively remove material until you have found the finished form you are after. In this process if you’re too conservative, you end up with a heavy piece that typically lacks a certain refinement. Go too far and remove too much wood and you just end up with a pile of shavings on the floor and a moment of heartbreak.
Firing a beautiful artistic vessel that I have already spent a good amount of time creating is something you need to just be brave and go for it, but also to know when to stop!
Burnt Bowls Q&A
Why do I add fire to some of my bowls?
Typically, when I fire the outside of a functional bowl I leave the inside natural, I find it makes a nice contrast and emphasises the natural wood-colours of the bowl.
In the case of Sculptural wooden vessels that are entirely fire blackened, I am wanting to focus the eye on the form and texture of the piece.
Will the black colour fade over time?
Unlike most modern stains and dyes, which fade with exposure to UV light,
The burnt black colour is entirely natural with no chemicals involved.
The colour is in the wood itself so the resulting black colour is totally stable and will not fade over time.
This is one key reason I chose this traditional technique: just how stable it is.
Is fire blackened wooden bowls food safe?
YES, fire blackened bowls are food safe.
There are no chemicals involved And all the loose material is brushed away before it is sealed with a Very hard wearing food safe oil.
If you’ve wondered why I often Blacken the outside of a bowl and leave the inside natural, that is just to make a nice contrast.
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