Large Fruitwood Spoons

Fruitwood is a generic term and the wood is often cherry, apple, pear or plum and it can be difficult to determine the exact species.   These are 13-16 inches long. The top spoon is not yet finished, the others have been sanded and treated with a beeswax/oil mix. I go with the flow on spoons following the density and grain patterns, trying to avoid cracks, knots, pitch pockets and other unstable defects. Large grainy projects like these are difficult work and I usually put them in a covered bucket with some denatured alcohol after carving on them, the alcohol displaces the water in the wood and decreases shrinkage cracking. There is substantial labor involved in making big spoons. I always work with wood from trees taken down by disease or a storm. I ask the tree for permission to use the wood for a project. A few “old” Abenaki spoons have survived but the above do not resemble any I have seen. These are very usable and Abenaki because I carved them. We are still here.

Patrick Lamphere, “Blackhand”

VAAA, Alnôbaiwi, St. Francis/Sokoki Band, Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi #65954