The detail that jumped out at me first: the blank was a field find, and it was meant to become a vase. Chunks of the burl were punky enough that the maker doubted the wood would hold together on the lathe during hollowing, so the plan became an egg instead. Reading that, the final shape feels earned rather than chosen.
The build started with the rough burl on a workbench, mossy bark and flat cut base and all. A faceplate went on with a cordless drill, a tailstock live center backed the work up, and gouges brought the spinning blank down to a rounded form. That turning exposed natural voids and bark inclusions. Masking tape formed a dam around the biggest cavity, then a two-part clear resin, Alumilite Amazing Clear Cast, mixed with Jacquard sapphire blue Pearl Ex powder, went into the pour.
Once cured, the piece was remounted in a four-jaw chuck and gouged into an egg contour. Finish went on with paper towels while the work spun, then a parting tool and handsaw freed the egg from its base. A handheld rotary sander flattened the bottom, which got a wipe of oil.
The result is a high-gloss sculpture with figured burl grain sitting next to pearlescent blue resin, and I think the colour contrasts beautifully with the spalted wood. One thing left open for me: the finish behind that shine is not stated anywhere, and I would genuinely like to know what produced it.
Project by Andy Phillip. Watch it on their YouTube channel: