Bàla no.21

Turned from apple wood, with rich, reddish-amber tones and striking contrasts between golden and deep chocolate-brown grain. Fine natural cracks, small insect trails and concentric growth rings lend the surface an almost painterly quality, preserving the marks of the wood's former life.

These sculptural wooden spheres are sourced in Friuli Venezia Giulia, in the far north-east of Italy, close to the Slovenian border. Each one is hand-turned from storm-fallen wood — apple, plum, elm — gathered from the surrounding forests. The maker, who prefers to remain anonymous, works slowly and intuitively, allowing the natural character of each piece of salvaged wood to guide the final form.

Each Bàle comes with an Anèi ring in solid, unlacquered brass, which serves as its base.

Foliage shown for styling purposes only and not included with the piece.