Spalted Beech Platter

This beautiful piece of wood came from a tree in Grange-over-Sands, South Cumbria.
 
You never know what you're going to get, when it comes to spalting. Spalting is the paterns formed in the wood by fungal growth.
 
Once the tree has been cut down, fungal spores work their way through the wood creating patterns as a byproduct of the process of decay. The challenge is to allow the fungus to perform their artistry, but to stop it before the tree completely rots. The process is stopped by drying the wood out, so it won't continue to rot any further from here.
 
I'm really pleased with how this platter came out. Almost soft to the touch but with a well defined rim. The spalting pattern splits the platter in half and tricks the mind into wondering if this is indeed two seperate pieces glued together.