Mathieu Jones

Turned from a piece of wind fallen Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) harvested from Abney Park Cemetery in Stoke Newington, London. The bowl was turned while the wood was still freshly cut (green). It was carefullyallowed to dry during the finishing process; as it did so, the wood subtly shifted and warped, allowing the finished form to settle into a quiet, organic asymmetry shaped by the memory of the grain.

The interior is first treated with sabi urushi—a blend of clay powder, water and raw lacquer—giving rise to its distinctive textured surface. This base is then followed by successive layers of urushi, applied using the wiped (fuki) lacquer technique. The outside is finished with an oil-beeswax mix that the artist makes himself. Both the inside and the outside are foodsafe.

A small crack on the rim was repaired by the artist using kintsugi techniques. The visible mend honoursthe bowl’s history, embracing imperfection as part of its character. Urushi is a natural lacquer derived from the sap of the urushi tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum), native to East Asia. Revered for over 9,000 years, it has been used to coat, preserve, and embellish objects with a remarkably durable and lustrous finish that deepens with time.

Product care: Hand wash in warm soapy water and leave to dry over a draining board. Woodenware should not be left to soak and should not go in the dishwasher or the microwave.