The Sweet Chatoyancy

𝗖𝗵𝗮•𝘁𝗼𝘆•𝗮𝗻𝘁 (shə-toi′ənt): having a changeable luster or color with an undulating narrow band of white light

The beautiful ripples you see on this platter were caused a change in the grain of the wood where the tree branched off and started a new limb. This type of figure in the wood is known as chatoyancy. It's one of my favorite irregularities of wood.

I come across chatoyancy in my locally sourced walnut pretty often. It brings me great satisfaction and joy to give a tree new life by turning its lumber into a functional piece of art. Each time I finish a piece like this, I spend extra time admiring the glitter of the wood in sunlight. It's hard not to stare at it for hours with the way each ray of light makes a different spot pop.