Cocobolo Cremation Urn Front View (Studio Light)

Specifications:

• Material:    Cocobolo with Walnut Lid Assembly.

• Capacity:   190 Cubic Inches

• Size:         11.5" h. x ; 8.75" w.

• Weight:     5 Lbs.

• Lid:          Screws On to 1.5" Opening.

• Finish:   Shellac (Enviro. Friendly)

• Foot Diameter:  6 1/8"

Price.............................$1,100.00

I made this cremation urn to resemble the Lotus flower which represents purity.

• About the Cocobolo Tree From Which this Cremation Urn is Made

• The Artists Story on Making this Cocobolo Cremation Urn

• Specifications of this Cocobolo Cremation Urn




Note: Scroll all of the way down to see pictures of this cremation urn from all angles.

Cocobolo, the Tree Which this Cremation Urn is Made

Cocobolo Dalbergia Retusa is a type of Rosewood found in Central and South America. It is among the most beautiful woods and known to become very dark once cut. It is typically orange or reddish-brown in color, and most often expresses darker, sometimes black figuring that randomly weaves through the wood. Its density, stability, and beauty makes this fine textured wood highly sought after for musical, usually stringed instruments where strict stability of shape is paramount. This wood is very oily and therefore quite resistant to moisture.

Since the etymology comes from the Spaniards calling this wood Kakabali, I can’t help but wonder if the name wasn’t colloquially shifted to Cocobolo for two reasons.

1.   This hardwood has a very deep chocolaty color.

2.   This hardwood actually smells like chocolate while you are working it. The only way I can describe it is to show it to you, so the buyer of this cremation urn will receive a fresh cut sample sealed in a bag to share the aroma with you.

About this Cocobolo Cremation Urn by the Artist

Whatever the reason for the name of this hardwood, I find it very pleasant to work with. The only drawback that I can find is the oil that naturally permeates this wood stained my hands for days. So, you ask, why didn’t you wear gloves? There are two reasons I don’t wear gloves when turning; I like to feel my work, and the other is a safety reason because if a glove gets caught on an object spinning at 2500 rpm, very serious injury could result. At any rate it wasn’t so bad because even though my hands were black, they smelled like chocolate regardless of how much I scrubbed.

My introduction to the block that I made this cremation urn from was at Righteous Woods in Rowley Mass. The owner, Steve King (not the novelist) talked my ear off about, you guessed it, religion (Righteous Woods). Steve is an interesting fellow so we shot the breeze for awhile.

If you could have seen the 10”x 10.5” x 7” block, and held it you would understand why it is the Rolls Royce of woods. It must have weighed 30 pounds.

I always show off my work to my friends and this one is more often the favorite. You won’t find one like it anywhere else.

Curiously, tapping on the enormous block generated a sound that a small wooden percussion instrument would make rather than a duller sound than one would expect.

I originally intended to shape this cremation urn to resemble the overall shape of a Padauk and Mahogany cremation urn that I made minus the foot, but as my round scraper made its way toward the top, it started forming the first curl that you see. That interested me, so I went with it. It occurred to me that I could capture more of the cream colored sapwood if I sharpened the top rather than rounded it over.

Since this cremation urn began to adopt a lotus shape, it only seemed right to continue the theme with a walnut top assemblage. It worked out well since the piece of waInut used is shaded with natural hints of lavender.

The Lotus represents purity.