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Burlwood Tree Stump Bowls

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I saw these first at Pottery Barn last Christmas. They were "display only" and I couldn't find out much about them. But I love their raw and natural form and felt they'd be really, really nice as wastepaper baskets or storage bowls in any home that's overrun with the hard edges of modernism...

 
 

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Then I found them in Kelly Green out here in Los Angeles. They were selling them and they were able to tell me what they were called: Burlwood Bowls. With a little online sleuthing, I found all these other good sources (and they're not expensive!).

Enjoy.

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Comments (15)

Marshalls and TJ Maxx has oodles of them and can't give them away. I guess not everyone appreciates them like we do.

posted by matthieu on 2008-06-10 11:50:09
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Home Goods has millions of them also.

posted by Rachel Abrams on 2008-06-10 12:20:08
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The other day I spoted these at Marshalls and Tjmax type stores. They are all kinds of shapes and even some with handles. Check it out, and they're cheap!

posted by Gambit on 2008-06-10 12:25:12
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ditto on seeing them at Marshalls - didn't pick one up since I was buying tons of other stuff but now that I think about it, it would be cool to get a few, drill holes in the bottoms and use them as planters...guess I'll have to go back!!!

posted by Lenny on 2008-06-10 12:32:59
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Ditto here (Portland/Vancouver area).

Home Goods has by far the best selection - and quality.

The Ross ones here are all cracked/split. I guess that's because the best ones sold out right away.

The Home Goods ones go for around $50 on average.

I wouldn't put any kind of liquid in them but they'd be great for dried flower display...

posted by boomer on 2008-06-10 12:33:03
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Anyone see the episode of Intervention where the meth addict would spend his days searching the woods for Burlwood so he could sell it for a pretty penny? Now I associate burlwood with meth addicts.

yes, this is a useless comment. Sorry!

posted by Cymbidium on 2008-06-10 12:42:45
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I bought one about 2 years ago in Charleston, SC in the outdoor market. They man that makes them makes them out of Cypress wood & I love it because it's handcrafted and not from Pottery Barn (which I love Pottery Barn but I love when someone makes it with their own 2 hands better). Here in SC there are tons of them at TJ Maxx and Marshalls.

posted by jennanng on 2008-06-10 13:01:33
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The Pottery Barn ones are very different than the ones at Home Goods. The ones at PB are on sale; they are rougher and less interesting.

We bought a set of these bowls from vivaterra.com and a little note that came with it said they were food safe for salads and such, but not liquids.

posted by robertcraig on 2008-06-10 13:06:01
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No its not a useless comment cymbidium. I saw that show and could not figure out what kind of wood they were talking about and if it was so in demand why the guy had piles stacked and never sold.

posted by Sara48 on 2008-06-10 14:37:14
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Z Gallerie has something like this too.
http://www.zgallerie.com/pc-2135-24-fir-wood-vase.aspx

posted by Laura on 2008-06-10 14:53:05
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Marshalls and some Big Lots.

Ugh.

posted by holland on 2008-06-10 15:30:18
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I have baskets made out of fuzzy bamboo root that I like much better.. way more interesting texture

posted by rvalexa on 2008-06-10 15:32:40
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so now we're deforesting for wastepaper baskets?

unless of course i'm misinformed and these are somehow more eco-sensitive.

posted by indiasoup on 2008-06-10 19:54:57
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Yup, I sent a link to Leslie or a tip or something about these products before, and yup, they are all over T.J.Max, very inexpensive.

Homegoods = Marshalls = T.J.Maxx and others:
http://www.tjx.com/about/homegoods.html

The ones at T.J.Maxx are not burlwood, they are made from Shan Mu roots.
http://www.chinadoublelion.com/english/product1.asp?id=10

http://www.canvastoclay.com/catalog/Hand-Carved-Shan-Mu-Wood-Basket-p-16242.html

Here's pretty much what I saw at my T.J.Maxx, baskets, vases, and wide open type things:
http://www.crabbyshack.com/

Oh, and the bowls:
http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/product/0055688628201a.shtml

I don't remember if they had the urns:
http://www.ttcollectiblegifts.com/shanmu.html

Nevertheless, they were around 15-50 dollars, if I recall correctly. Depending on size of item. No need to spend LARGE amounts of money for something that is made by the same people in the same places out of the same things.

Each one is slightly different, so that it is MUCH better to check them out in person and not order online. Maybe you want more or less color variation or more or less little root bumps. I like the bumps and the variation!

posted by TRUE BLUE on 2008-06-10 20:59:47
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They have one as an umbrella stand at Wisteria:
http://www.wisteria.com/prodinfo.asp?number=W2004

posted by zim on 2008-06-11 12:08:26
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