Tigerwood, also known as Goncalo Alves, is a striking hardwood known for its dramatic, contrasting stripes that resemble the pattern of a tiger. The tree itself, Astronium graveolens, is a relatively large tree native to Central and South America, often found in the rainforests of Brazil, Mexico, and Guatemala. These trees can grow quite tall, reaching heights of 100 feet or more, with a moderately dense canopy. The wood’s heartwood ranges from a light reddish-brown to a rich dark brown, dramatically contrasted by irregular, dark black or brown stripes, giving it its characteristic tiger-like appearance. This bold grain pattern, is combined with its durability and resistance to insects and decay.
The wood is also known for its smooth texture and ability to take a polish, however, due to its density, it can be somewhat challenging to work with, requiring sharp tools and careful attention during machining and finishing. The particular cut from which this bowl came was unniform in density and quite imbalanced on the lathe which only added to the challenge.
This was originally going to be a bowl roughly 2 inches in depth. However a tool catch pulled the bowl free from the chuck as I was hollowing the centre, and the outer edge was damaged beyond recovery. The base was intact though, so rather than waste it I turned it into a shallow platter and polished it up to enhance the grain. Not one of my favourite pieces, but I’m pleased with how it came out in the end.
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