Hand-Turned Treen Inkwell

This inkwell was hand-turned on a lathe. The profile – a domed lid with a button finial and a flared, stepped base – is a classic woodturning project.

The Wood: Spalted Maple

The most distinctive feature of this piece is the wood itself. It is almost certainly Spalted Maple (though Spalted Birch or Tamarind are similar possibilities).

• What is Spalting? Those thin, dark, “pen-line” markings are known as zone lines. They are actually caused by fungi as they begin to decay the wood.
• Artistic Appeal: Woodturners prize spalted wood because the fungus creates these unique, map-like patterns. Once the wood is dried and finished, the fungal growth stops, leaving behind the beautiful “inked” lines you see here.