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Saturday, July 4, 2009

The gift of true love: a Spencer Peterman bowl

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If you really, really like someone, buy them a Spencer Peterman bowl. A dear friend just gave me one, and I think it's one of the best presents I've ever received. The designer scours forests for fallen trees, especially ones that are covered with moss and dirt and just beginning to decompose. Then he takes them back to his studio to handcarve and polish into smooth bowls in a myriad of sizes (mine is 15 inches—perfect for serving a big salad at a dinner party). It's so lovely: There's something poetic about transforming nature's waste into a gorgeous keepsake. Each piece is one of a kind and kiln-dried to suck out the moisture in the wood, so if you take care of it properly (which really just means using common sense, rubbing it down with mineral oil every so often, and not throwing it in the dishwasher), it could last forever. All the better to remind the person you've given it to of what a terrific friend you are.

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Comments 1-3 of 3
  • woodsman's Avatar
    Posted by woodsman Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:11pm PDT

    this hardly seems recycled - doesn't it have to be made into something first? the whole cycle-of-life seemingly had dibs on that "waste" - the bowls look great but really its not saving the planet.

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  • stillknits's Avatar
    Posted by stillknits Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:55am PDT

    I agree. It's not "nature's waste" -- there's no such thing. Decomposing trees make the earth more fertile for the trees that are still living.

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  • lompocpat's Avatar
    Posted by lompocpat Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:24am PDT

    This bowl is priced at $190.00.....rather steep for a salad bowl. It's wonderful that he hand-works each one, but I've seen bowls like this at just about every arts & crafts fair for the last 20 years and better prices too.

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