PALLAS

A Sugar Maple burl shaped by prolonged and highly localized stress within the tree, forcing the surrounding wood into extreme compression and producing an exceptionally intense flame figure and chatoyancy. The grain appears to flow continuously across the form, shifting from broad flame to tighter, almost liquid-looking figure as the viewing angle changes. This is an especially dramatic example of the optical depth that can occur when Sugar Maples grows under intense internal tension.

The natural form divides into two distinct hollowed compartments connected by a narrow central section where portions of the original bark have been preserved. Two slender openings are filled with aluminum, introducing a metallic contrast against the pale, highly figured maple.