Box Elder Hollow Vessel

These are three views of a Box Elder hollow vessel. It is small and measures 4.5 inches wide and 3.75 inches tall. Box Elder is an unloved member of the maple family. It frequent low swampy places, grows like a weed and is softer than its harder cousins and does not make as good firewood as sugar maple. For this reason it is shunned by woodworkers, timber people and landowners alike. It is generally regarded as a trash tree.

Does the above vessel look like trash to you? When this tree is injured it produces the red pigment you see above. It seems to be a general response to any injury. This particular large Box Elder had ring shake where the annual rings seem to come unglued and the split follows the growth ring.

The red color tends to fade over time but it is great while it lasts. I noticed that I am starting to fade a bit myself but I am not ready to be tossed in the fire quite yet. As the color fades you can see the rich tans emerge and you can always enjoy the form, if it is a pleasing one. All wood is always changing. Have you ever seen a 17th century antique? They are all black. Wood is made of carbon and carbon in its natural state is black. So all those dark antiques that people love were brightly colored when new. Yet we still love the antique. So perhaps someone will find room in their heart for this flaming vixen even knowing that over time you both will fade.