This calabash style bowl is turned from a nicely coloured piece of black cherry (Prunus serotina). The tree its self was standing dead for several years before being harvested which resulted in darkening of the sapwood and producing an array of different colours and patterns in the wood. The outer surface of this bowl was textured with random spherical divot that produce a wonderfully tactile surface reminiscent of avocado skin. The surface was then painted with black milk paint to produce the final surface. Milk paints provide a durable, food safe surface that still lets the grain of the wood telegraph through the finished piece. Typical of the calibash form, the bowl is slightly enclosed and the rim slopes invitingly towards the interior. The bowl is perfect for serving buns on Sunday dinner or snacks during the big game. Finished with polymerized Tung oil and then buffed to a pleasant satin sheen, this bowls feels as good as it looks.