(See video at bottom of page!!) This set features 4 beautiful coasters of varying figure: 1) Highly figured Soft Maple from my friend Dwayne Chenney, harvested from a tree off his property in Lancaster, PA 2) New England Black Walnut (From my Chair Making friend David Douyard) which looks dark in some directions and light in others as you spin the coaster 3) Highly Figured Padauk from the Andaman Islands (This exceptional veneer was given to me by the family of a woodworker after his passing. He bought these veneers in the 1970’s back when huge trees on islands were still plentiful. These came from amazing Padauk tress from the Andaman Islands off the coast of india and retain their stunning red/orange hues despite the veneer being over 50 years old. You cannot buy veneer like this anymore even if you wanted to) 4) Air Dried Figured Black Walnut - Being air dried rather than steamed in a commercial kiln is essential for Black Walnut to retain its subtle coloring (including reds, browns, and hints of silver) which you can see in this beautiful specimen.

The design of my coaster sets starts with the overall shape, reminiscent of the sun (the coasters) setting over mountains (the stand). Practical considerations included: 1) I wanted them to be large enough to comfortably fit any glass. 2) I made them thick enough to resist warping but not so thick that they knock a glass over if it was placed over the edge. 3) I inserted a cork ring to cusion them, absorb any liquids under the coaster, and prevent scratching. 4) I finished them with a hardwax oil which offers excellent liquid protection, highlights the exceptional grain, is easily reapplied by anyone, thereby protecting them for years to come. Moreover I wanted a stand that would be as beautiful as the coasters themselves, and offer a touch of contemporary class with solid brass rod. I hope you enjoy looking at these in your home, taking a moment to appreciate how beautiful wood can be!