Looking for the perfect gift? Check out our Gift Guide!



Information Page

Which wood is which?
Woodenware Care


Which wood is which?

This is a common question and not one to easily answer, particularly when computer monitors vary so much. But we've chosen a few product images of wooden bowls, cutting boards and salad servers below that provide a good representation between the various wood species, along with a description of their qualities.

Black Walnut Boston wooden salad bowlBlack Walnut Long Cutting Board with yellow birch stripes

First is American Black Walnut. Considered by many to be the King of American woods it has been the wood of choice for centuries by cabinetmakers for their finest pieces. It is held in high regard as a lumber species and walnut trees are a valuable commodity. It has a deep brown almost purplish hue in color which combination darkens down with light and time to a lighter blackish hue. Shown here is our Long Board, one in our Classic Cutting Boards collection, and one of our most popular wooden bowls, the Boston Bowl.

Yellow Birch Traditional Lazy Susan turntableYellow Birch round cutting board

Next is Yellow Birch. This is our main wood of choice and is shown here in our Traditional Lazy Susan Turntables and Round Cutting Board. It has a very close grain, has excellent working capabilities and has a nice well identified grain pattern. After some time exposed to light it darkens down to a very friendly brownish red giving yet more character to the wood. In color it ranges from a light tawny brown to quite a deep red. Ours do all the color moods.

Cherry wood Fork and Spoon Salad ServersCherry wood Green Mountain Bowl

Now we have Cherry wood, shown in our popular Fork and Spoon Salad Servers and 17" diameter Green Mountain Bowl. A much loved wood particularly throughout New England where it has been a staple in furniture and treen ware. It is reddish in color, a red which darkens deeply over time with exposure to light and it has a very pleasing texture and grain identification.

Spalted Maple wooden bowlBirds Eye Maple wooden cheese board

Next we have two wood types, Spalted Maple and Bird's Eye Maple. Both are equally sought after wood species and we are proud to offer spalted wooden bowls, a bird's eye maple serving platter and bird's eye cheese cutting board.

Spalted Maple can be considered a Vermont Exotic. The widely varying patterns of the spalting of the maple is the process of organic destruction. We have to catch it when it has gone far enough to be beautiful and not so far gone as to be rotted. Rest assured, each product is thoroughly inspected for any possible defects prior to shipment. Your 100% satisfaction is our top priority. Browse our Spalted Maple Bowls here...

Bird's Eye Maple as seen in this Cheese Board offers a unique speckled effect consisting of light and slightly darker variations in the maple wood. For a closer examination, take a look at our Bird's Eye Scottish Ashet Large Serving Platter.

Zebrawood Boston Bowl, wooden salad bowl

Last but certainly not to be overlooked, Zebrawood. Out of Africa, and it is to the best of our knowledge the most strikingly figured wood there is. John McLeod made his first Zebra Wood Bowl in 1967 and after many years and many customer requests, the Zebrawood Exotic Wood Bowl is back! We can't guarantee for how long, but we can guarantee that while this truly unique wood is available we'll be applying it to our most popular Classic Wooden Bowls - the Boston Bowl (shown above), Tulip Bowl, and T3 (aka the Vermont Bowl). Learn more...


Woodenware Care

All of the wood species indicated above can be cared for with the same simple process - Wash in mild soap, dry thoroughly, and never put woodenware in the dishwasher. Our products if cared for properly will provide years of service and remain just as pleasing to the eye as when they were first purchased.

 

                                       

Top