Keyaki Carved Plate #2

Here is another carved keyaki plate, similar to it’s sibling, but a bit smaller in size.  This piece of keyaki looks like it came from near the base of a tree.  There are a few minor stress cracks, and very dense, reversing grain that is pretty typical of wood cut from the base of a tree.  There is also a touch of pale sap wood as well.  Depending on the species of tree the outer layer of wood, sapwood, is often a different color from the inner heartwood.  In trees the sapwood does the job of storing nutrients and passing water from the roots to the leaves.  As the tree grows new layers of sapwood are formed and the old sapwood dies and becomes heartwood.

I started this plate on the lathe, cutting the overall form and sanding smooth the rim, and bottom.  From there I used a gouge to hand carve the series of scalloped lines running across the bottom surface of the plate.

Dimensions : 8 7/8″ x 1 3/16″  (225mm x 30 mm)

Raw tung oil finish

The tray is finished with a generous coat of pure tung oil.  I use a 100% pure tung oil, without added chemical driers or other ingredients.  Tung oil is slow curing, but will harden over time producing a protective, slightly matte finish.

Use and Care

With the carved scalloped texture, this plate is suited for serving things like bread, scones, cookies, etc.  But you could also easily use it as a serving plate for tea or coffee.

I recommend cleaning the plate with with a light rinse of water.  You can also use standard dish detergent when necessary.  After rinsing it’s best to towel dry to help prevent water from sitting on the wood surface.  The oil finish will help to prevent water from penetrating into the wood, however if water sits on the surface for a prolonged period it will gradually penetrate and can cause discoloration and potential warping and cracking.

After using, washing, and drying many times the wood’s surface may begin to look a bit dry.  At that point, reapplying a coat of oil and wax will help to maintain a layer of protection while keeping the surface looking rich.  I’ve included a small tin of beeswax and linseed oil mix for you to use for periodic maintenance.