Untitled 09

Untitled 09 is a 9 inch light from the Mortal Man series, turned from box elder burl, a wood known for its wild grain movement, natural voids, and unpredictable figure. The burl carries an almost chaotic beauty to it, with every surface shifting in color and texture as light moves across the piece. Natural fractures and openings were carefully repaired using brass kintsugi, allowing the imperfections to become part of the story rather than something hidden away.

Finished with Danish oil, the wood was brought to a deep warmth and soft glow that gives the piece a sense of life even when unlit. When illuminated, the figure within the burl comes alive, revealing layers of depth and movement that feel impossible to fully capture in a photograph. Like the rest of the Mortal Man series, Untitled 08 is rooted in the idea that fragility, damage, and repair are not separate from beauty, but inseparable from it.