This is a hand turned heart shaped ring dish made from Zebrawood. Each of my bowls are signed, numbered and dated (year). Each of my bowls are signed, numbered and dated (year). They are finished with a friction polish that’s applied while still on the lathe.

This bowl measures 4 7/8″ across and is 7/8″ high.

Zebrawood is heavy, hard and strong wood of Microberlinia, also known as Zebrano, is imported from Central Africa, (Gabon, Cameroon, and Congo). The heartwood is a pale golden yellow, distinct from the very pale color of the sapwood and features narrow streaks of dark brown to black. Zebrawood can also be a pale brown with regular or irregular marks of dark brown in varying widths. It is almost always quartersawn to get the exciting alternating color pattern. It is a heavy and hard wood with a somewhat coarse texture, often with an interlocked or wavy grain. The interlocked grain of this wood, like that of many tropical woods, can make it difficult to work.

Bryan Tyler Nelson is NELSONWOOD

Bryan Nelson harvesting a Texas Burl.

I was first exposed to woodworking in my Junior High School years. It was just a class I took with my friends. I did turn a bowl, which I still have, but it was one of the scariest thing I ever did at that age.   That was really the extent of it till around the year 1998 I was given 45 solid oak church pews, thus it began.

With the purchase of a surface planer, a second hand radial arm saw and a few hand tools I built bookcases, beds, benches and tables for friends and family. I found that I have a knack. I acquired all my knowledge and skill through trial and error and many hours of reading. Over the years I did small and big projects. But I found my true love (well second) when I purchased my first lathe a 14” Jet. After a year I bought a bigger lathe Oneway 2436 and started pushing the limits.

A day usually doesn’t go by with out something being turned. On a normal day I’ll produce 3-10 turned items. I have over 5,000 bowls sold through retail and internet sales (I sign, date and number each bowl). Wood turning is what I spend most of my woodworking time on. I have a great respect and love of wood; if you were to look in my storage building and workshop, which hold between 80 to a 140 species of wood at any give time. You got to love the stuff to keep all this around!

Wood is the most perfect of gods creations. A living treasure of hidden beauty that remains hidden till it’s death. I am humbled to be able to reveal to all some of this hidden beauty. To help the trees live again, to be resurrected and shine again.   I find great satisfaction in saving some of the local wood in my area from their final resting place, fire pit or dump. Some of the largest and great bowls have come from local woods in my own neighborhood.

If we, the human race, would put aside out greed and think clearly of how to use our forest, there would be no danger to our forest and jungles. The trees and people could live in harmony. Trees living long, then when their life force is spent they could live again with help of man. We just have to find the balance………….