Can one custom order a wooden salad bowl?

[mengwong]

She sent me this link today, expressing desire: A Salad Bowl With an Heirloom Price (Published 2019)

Anyone know how I might even begin to investigate the possibility of commissioning such a thing, for somewhat less than the $500 the New York Times thinks I should be prepared to pay? Or is that a proper price?

@OwlWoodworks

 

[Matus]

I have no releant experience in wood turning, but unless that wood is very special or it has a very special surface finish, I am having hard time understanding that price.

 

[jedy617]

Wooden Salad Bowl Hand Turned Flame Boxelder - Etsy

This Bowls item by deadtreewoodworks has 18 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Freeland, MI. Listed on May 9, 2023

www.etsy.com

17 Large Cherry Bowl Food Safe Wooden Bowl Wooden - Etsy

This Bowls item by HollandBowlMill has 645 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Holland, MI. Listed on Jun 7, 2023

www.etsy.com

Extra Salad Bowl Olive Wood Large Fruit Bowl Handmade Wooden - Etsy

This Bowls item by BfCartMallorca has 564 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Spain. Listed on Jul 1, 2023

www.etsy.com

 

[MarcelNL]

size matters, the larger the easier it'll split during turning (or drying) but 500 bucks is a 5th Av price IMO.

 

[Jovidah]

20-25 bucks at IKEA if you're willing to settle for bamboo.

Serveerschaal, BLANDA MATT, bamboe, 28 cm - IKEA

Bestel Serveerschaal, BLANDA MATT, bamboe, 28 cm bij IKEA · 365 dagen ruilen · Thuisbezorgd of ophalen vanaf € 3.99. IKEA, Een wereld aan ideeën.

www.ikea.com

For bowls personally I prefer something I can throw in the dishwasher though.

 

[mengwong]

that wood is very special

Yea, I reckon it’s the Sequoia sempervirens that’s hard to source.

 

[OwlWoodworks]

Hmm, I wish I had a suggestion but I’m not too deep in the bowl turning world. That being said, that definitely has the fancy store premium attached to it. No reason a local turned couldn’t make you that for $300 out of a WAY nicer piece of wood

 

[Bensbites]

I am friendly with a local maker named Matt P Day who hand carved his wooden bowls. They have character and individualality, way more than a turned bowl.

Matt Day Woodworks (@mattpday) • Instagram photos and videos

2,679 Followers, 1,060 Following, 454 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Matt Day Woodworks (@mattpday)

instagram.com

 

[McMan]

I have a few in maple from these guys, and looks like they have maple, walnut, cherry, and Ash: The Vermont Bowl Company, Wilmington Vermont, Div. of John McLeod Ltd.
Or, here's 17" from solid Beech:

Solid Wood Artisan Bowl, In 4 Sizes

Beautifully Hand-Turned Artisan Bowls, Made of Solid American Beechwood

www.vermontcountrystore.com

Very good, but if you want a smooth as glass finish, look elsewhere. Definitely more on the practical side. But they've been at it for a while.
Burl bowls are striking. Cherry or maple burl can be incredible (or boring)--so much depends on the wood and some luck, since the figure on the block won't be the figure in the bowl once much of the wood is removed. Ash is nice as well.
Since you're in Singapore, I'd wonder if differences in the humidity of where the bowl was made vs. Singapore would be a risk. Someone that really knows wood can chime in hopefully.

 

[RonB]

Find a seller on Etsy that you like and ask if they can do what you want.

 

[mengwong]

Thanks all for the opinions. The search goes on. The difficulty is that every wood I find seems to be endangered or threatened or neither, all at the same time. And it doesn’t help that the common name for a wood may encompass thousands of species with different statuses. Teak? Ironwood? The only safe thing seems to be bamboo :/

 

[MarcelNL]

there is plenty of suitable wood that is not from an endangered species, just find a local wood seller other than for construction purposes, ask them for advice and if they know a local craftsman.

You could probably DIY it, turning a bowl is not rocket science ;-)

 

[Dan-]

Try this guy: Home - Peterman's Boards & Bowls

 

[caseyswenson]

I haven’t used their bowls but love their utensils. Wooden Bowls

 

[maxxpup]

Try this guy: Home - Peterman's Boards & Bowls

Bought one a few years ago, now multiple family members own one.
They're pretty awesome.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Try this guy: Home - Peterman's Boards & Bowls

That these are from upcycled wood is extra cool! And they are simply gorgeous!

 

[TB_London]

Visit a woodturning forum and see who makes to sell, looks a very simple shape to turn and not massive so would be within capacity of a lot of peoples kit

 

[deltaplex]

I like to look for them in the vintage shops and garage sales, I usually find ones that were never oiled up or finished and they clean up really nice, with very little work.

 

[ahhactive]

She sent me this link today, expressing desire: A Salad Bowl With an Heirloom Price (Published 2019)
View attachment 252172
Anyone know how I might even begin to investigate the possibility of commissioning such a thing, for somewhat less than the $500 the New York Times thinks I should be prepared to pay? Or is that a proper price?

@OwlWoodworks

Login • Instagram try talking to Jonathan. But I have no idea on pricing