Past: North American Burl Treen: Colonial & Native American

As Sir Paul sang, “It was 20 years ago today.” Well, not to the day, but in the spring of 2005, my book, North American Burl Treen: Colonial and Native American, was published. It was and still is the only substantial study of this cross-cultural art and craft. In recognition, we are having a small exhibit of burl treen and other treen at the gallery.

The exhibit focuses mainly on Woodlands burl and effigy ladles (many of which are featured in the book), a few Woodlands bowls, a masterpiece Delaware speaker’s staff, and a remarkable Colonial American ash burl basin (which is my favorite turned piece in the book).

I have always said that if I were not a dealer, I would collect Woodlands effigy ladles. They go well beyond utility and serve as platforms for sublime, soulful, and small-scale sculptures.

The Woodlands people’s diet was typically stew-based, and they used personalized eating ladles that held a totemistic or special meaning for the owner, which were usually made in consultation with a medicine man or elder.

Ash burl ladles without effigies were primarily food preparation utensils and thus developed complex surfaces from daily use.