From time to time in life we are asked to do something that makes us cringe, and such was certainly the case one day in May, when Joanne and Robert walked into our gallery and shared their dilemma and subsequent request. They had commissioned a local woodworking shop to produce a very special dining table, for their charming Corktown loft, and were, let’s just say less than pleased with the results. They had chosen to have their table made from a truly prized, Canadian wood, Spalted Maple, now one of our personal favorites, a very difficult wood to both find and - because of the vast variety of patterns - to match. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, when their table was delivered, the two seams of the three-sectioned table had been improperly joined. As Robert stated, sadly, “I can’t even look at it, never mind sit at it.” Joanne and Robert requested that Matthew gently cut the table into three pieces, properly reassemble them, and to attempt to do so without having to refinish the newly finished table. Cringe. Additionally, feeling as though the table lacked the presence that a table constructed from such a distinctive wood should rightly demand, and simply to give the table a more finished appearance, they requested that Matthew also add a 2” skirt. And so began our hunt-for and love-of Spalted Maple.
Spalting is a natural process that occurs in a variety of species, but it’s the lighter colored woods like birch and maple that offer the best canvas for the drama to express itself upon. When a tree is downed, fungi found naturally on the forest floor begin their show, and if three, simple conditions - airflow, heat and moisture - are just right, the results are spectacular, producing black, gray, pink and even multi-colored streaks in the wood. Spalting, simply stated, is a wondrous process whereby due to a fallen tree’s environmental circumstances it is placed into an accelerated state of deterioration, which produces a visually stunning display. But because spalting is actually just a pretty name for rotting, enters the importance of stopping the process, through drying, before the integrity of the wood is breached; if spalting is left unchecked, the wood, in a very short period of time, is completely destroyed. However the results of spalting “caught” at just the right time are truly amazing, and have been aptly described as the work of Nature’s pen, because each streak seems to be the thoughtful work of an obviously skilled hand.
Joanne and Robert’s maple dining table is a fine example of this wonderful phenomenon, so the trick was finding a wood with a matching signature, if you will, and we could not be happier with what we found. After searching high and low, we were more than pleased to finally find a sufficient, perfectly matching supply of Spalted Maple at a small, independent mill in the Niagara region. We had almost decided along with Joanne and Robert to use a different, contrasting wood, but at the last minute received an e-mail, saying their mill had exactly what we were looking for. We were not disappointed, and happily, Joanne and Robert both agree that it’s a great match.
Although we were sad to see it go, with so many of our walk-by’s stopped in their tracks by its beauty, we are truly happy that Joanne and Robert will have many memorable moments with family and friends gathered around their very special, Spalted Maple dining table. Cheers!
Spalting is a natural process that occurs in a variety of species, but it’s the lighter colored woods like birch and maple that offer the best canvas for the drama to express itself upon. When a tree is downed, fungi found naturally on the forest floor begin their show, and if three, simple conditions - airflow, heat and moisture - are just right, the results are spectacular, producing black, gray, pink and even multi-colored streaks in the wood. Spalting, simply stated, is a wondrous process whereby due to a fallen tree’s environmental circumstances it is placed into an accelerated state of deterioration, which produces a visually stunning display. But because spalting is actually just a pretty name for rotting, enters the importance of stopping the process, through drying, before the integrity of the wood is breached; if spalting is left unchecked, the wood, in a very short period of time, is completely destroyed. However the results of spalting “caught” at just the right time are truly amazing, and have been aptly described as the work of Nature’s pen, because each streak seems to be the thoughtful work of an obviously skilled hand.Joanne and Robert’s maple dining table is a fine example of this wonderful phenomenon, so the trick was finding a wood with a matching signature, if you will, and we could not be happier with what we found. After searching high and low, we were more than pleased to finally find a sufficient, perfectly matching supply of Spalted Maple at a small, independent mill in the Niagara region. We had almost decided along with Joanne and Robert to use a different, contrasting wood, but at the last minute received an e-mail, saying their mill had exactly what we were looking for. We were not disappointed, and happily, Joanne and Robert both agree that it’s a great match.Although we were sad to see it go, with so many of our walk-by’s stopped in their tracks by its beauty, we are truly happy that Joanne and Robert will have many memorable moments with family and friends gathered around their very special, Spalted Maple dining table. Cheers! 
