RootWorks
RootWorks
RootWorks® bowls, platters, and decorative items are carved from a species of Chinese Fir called Shan Mu, which grows abundantly in the mountains of Central China. RootWorks® raw materials come from stumps left by logging operations, the removal of which allows for faster reforestation. The stumps are removed by hardy teams along the mountain slopes and transported to the remote carving villages. After careful cleaning and grading each gnarled stump is then transformed by skilled carvers into the gorgeous and unique RootWorks® products we proudly offer. Watching the carvers read each organic chunk of the fragrant fir is a thing of wonder – the rough stump is turned and studied, inner and outer surfaces rough-hewn and balanced, shaved and nibbled with sharp tools, until the final form starts to emerge, each one different from the last. Each piece is then carefully sanded, smoothed, and lacquered, revealing the depth of grain, stunning color, and variety of sculptural shapes that makes RootWorks® a winning collection.
RootWorks bowls are available in two different carving styles. The “Stump Cut” bowls are made from the raw stump which is simply inverted and hollowed out. The growth rings are visible on the bottom of the bowl – you can count the rings to see how old your bowl is! Stump Cut bowls tend to be fairly round in shape. The “Flat Cut” carving style use the sections of a stump once it has been split lengthwise. The rings are visible at both ends of the bowl and the shape of the bowl varies from almost semi-rectangular to trapezoidal. Each bowl is a blend of the distinct character of the tree from which it came and the artistic flair of the artisan carving it.
