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Hollow-Turned Vessel: "Puka" Series
American Black Walnut Wood

This is definitely one of those pieces where I started out with a different idea in mind than what actually came to fruition. Once I started working on this piece it became evident that I had another gem in my hands. The word "Puka" (poo' kah), loosely translated from the Hawaiian language, means a "hole" or "opening" - and this turning certainly fits that description.

The term "one-of-a-kind" is a widely over-used phase that often describes one's work, but in this instance, it does fit the bill, for it describes this piece perfectly. The top section of this hollow vessel was a part of the outer edge - the bark line. Waiting any longer before I started on it would've proved disastrous due to the advanced stages of the borer and ant infestations that not only made this piece unique, but also challenged my technical skills as a wood-turner trying to capture a piece of posterity from a once noble tree.