Rippled Grain

So why do I soak some pieces in boiled linseed oil? Is it some adaptation of a medieval torture technique? No, I do it to bring out a warmth and depth of the wood that is difficult to get through other means. The rippled sapwood of this piece is a good example of what I mean. The oil-saturated wood, viewed through the prism of a glossy shellac finish, seems three-dimensional. Of course, the darker heartwood on this form is no slouch either. It has a depth and warmth that you’d expect of a much older piece.