Bàla no.31

Turned from plum wood, with rich coppery tones and a beautifully pronounced grain that moves in concentric rings across the surface. A dramatic natural split cuts through the sphere, revealing the darker interior of the wood, while scattered knots and deep, irregular markings add to its sculptural character — traces of the tree's former life preserved in its new form.

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, 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.