This 10" rimmed plate is made from a solid block of spalted Maple wood. The rim is approximately 1 1/2" wide and the plate stands 1 1/2" tall.  In this plate the dark lines created by the spalting are sharply contrasted by the naturally light Maple wood. A truly one-of-a-kind decorative plate which has been signed by the Muskogee Native American artist.

Only a few of the American Maple trees are categorized as hardwoods. These include the Sugar Maple and Black Maple trees. In early colonial times, the heels of women’s shoes were made primarily from Maple wood. By the 1920s, most airplane propellers were made from Maple wood because of its strength. From the earliest colonial days, Maple was a popular wood for making furniture, cutting boards, and kitchen utensils. It was considered to be one of the few woods in North America that did not apply a “taste” to food. The wood is light colored with dense grains which provide strong, durable qualities making it resistant to abrasive wear. The sapwood is white and the heartwood is a pale reddish brown with deeper colored bands.

Spalting is any form of wood coloration caused by fungi. Although primarily found in dead trees, spalting can also occur in living trees when it a stressed or grows under unfavorable conditions. The patterns left by the fungi are permanent and provide a much desired and artistic flair to the wood.