Percy Herbert Contemporary Wood Design

Percy Herbert Contemporary Wood Design Everything handmade by me in Stockport, UK.

Shallow ebonised bowl in ash.
28/05/2026

Shallow ebonised bowl in ash.

A set of three elm pots, made from the same length of wood. I'm always interested in exploring and representing the esse...
17/05/2026

A set of three elm pots, made from the same length of wood. I'm always interested in exploring and representing the essence of the material I work with - the individuality of each piece of wood is part of what keeps me interested and excited. I find the unique patterns and features fascinating. So when I get a short length of really characterful wood like this one, I try to find a way to work with just how unique and interesting it is. If you put these pots in the right order, on top of each other, you can see how the grain runs through them all. And I like that. So these three will be staying together, sold as a set.

This is one of my favourite styles of bowl to make. The rim is thin where the ebonised outside meets the natural finish ...
11/05/2026

This is one of my favourite styles of bowl to make. The rim is thin where the ebonised outside meets the natural finish inside, giving it precision and delicacy, while the rounded, thicker base makes it satisfyingly weighty to hold.

Made from ash, 24cm wide, 8.5cm tall.

I sometimes think there can be a bit of a disconnect between a finished piece and where it came from. I even sometimes g...
08/05/2026

I sometimes think there can be a bit of a disconnect between a finished piece and where it came from. I even sometimes get asked if all my work starts with a raw lump of wood (spoiler - it does!).

And I get it - sometimes giving something a perfect finish and an unusual form can create that disconnect. There's no question where this piece of elm came from though - it is embodying the essence of the tree it came from. And when the raw material looks this good, I do as little as possible to it.

3cm high, 30cm wide.

A little pot made from thuya burr. Burr wood has obvious appeal for the complexity and detail in the grain - this has th...
03/05/2026

A little pot made from thuya burr. Burr wood has obvious appeal for the complexity and detail in the grain - this has the bonus of having a very distinct and pleasant smell, even when finished.

A little ebonised ash bowl with some line decoration. The grain in this piece of wood is stunning and I like how it adds...
01/05/2026

A little ebonised ash bowl with some line decoration. The grain in this piece of wood is stunning and I like how it adds to the contrast between the natural interior and the ebonised outside

A plate made from apple wood, 22cm wide.It's not often I make something this shallow and this was a result of a larger p...
20/04/2026

A plate made from apple wood, 22cm wide.

It's not often I make something this shallow and this was a result of a larger piece of wood cracking, which reduced the amount of material I had to work with. I enjoyed the change, especially developing such a subtle form with the rim edge. And it obviously helps that apple is such a beautiful wood when finished.

A large ebonised bowl in ash, 25cm wide, 8.5cm tall.I've made a few pieces exploring this style, where I'm adding subtle...
16/04/2026

A large ebonised bowl in ash, 25cm wide, 8.5cm tall.

I've made a few pieces exploring this style, where I'm adding subtle, precise line decoration to the ebonised surface. I'm interested in how it sits alongside the enhanced grain pattern that comes from the burning and finishing, and at what point I think I've done enough, or too much. I think this one catches the balance fairly well.

A recently finished bowl in spalted beech. Quite a lightweight bowl as I've kept the thickness even throughout, at aroun...
14/04/2026

A recently finished bowl in spalted beech. Quite a lightweight bowl as I've kept the thickness even throughout, at around 5mm. Nice to hold - feels solid and delicate at the same time.

Elm pot, 8cm tall.
02/04/2026

Elm pot, 8cm tall.

Address

Stockport

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Percy Herbert Contemporary Wood Design posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category