Handcrafted from a single piece of wood in Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Free shipping in the USA, Canada and the UK
ABOUT OUR BOWLS
What makes Talking Wood Studio bowls special?
Each bowl is sculpted by artist Ben Balzer using rare, highly figured hardwoods selected for exceptional beauty, chatoyance, and grain character. Every piece is shaped, finished, and waxed by hand, then documented with a Certificate of Authenticity.
Where are your bowls made?
All bowls are sculpted in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains.
Are your bowls food‑safe?
Yes. We use pure food‑grade Tung oil and food‑safe carnauba wax.
Are your bowls made from a single piece of wood?
Yes. Every bowl is turned from a single solid block of hardwood — never laminated, glued, or pieced together.
Do you use CNC machines or mass‑production tools?
No. Each bowl is shaped and rough-sanded individually on a lathe. Once the oil cures, it is hand-sanded, then polished and waxed on the lathe.
How long does it take to make a bowl?
Most bowls take 8–20 hours of hands‑on work across multiple days, including shaping, drying, sanding, oiling, and waxing.
WOOD & FIGURE
What woods do you use?
We use rare and highly figured hardwoods including Big Leaf Maple, Flame Maple, Sapele, Bubinga, Walnut, Ebiara, Etimoe, Curupay, Magnolia, London Plane, Purpleheart, and more.
What is “figure” in wood?
Figure refers to natural patterns in the grain — curl, flame, quilt, ribbon, pomelle, burl, and chatoyance — that create movement and depth.
What is chatoyance?
Chatoyance is the shimmering, three‑dimensional glow that appears when light moves across figured wood. It’s similar to the effect seen in tiger’s eye gemstones.
How rare are the woods you use?
Many of the woods we use are salvaged, storm‑fallen, or selectively sourced for exceptional figure. Master‑grade pieces are extremely rare.
How do you grade wood?
We classify wood into three grades:
Where is your wood sourced?
We search America’s forests for fallen or salvaged hardwoods with exceptional figure. Rare exotics are sourced from trusted suppliers.
CARE & USE
How do I care for my bowl?
Wash by hand, dry with a cloth, allow to air‑dry, and periodically apply food‑grade wax.
Are your bowls food safe?
Yes
ORDERING & SHIPPING
Do you offer free shipping?
Yes — free shipping to the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. Shipping for the rest of the world is at the flat rate of $19.99 for DHL eCommerce Parcel Standard and $29.99 for DHL Express
Do you ship internationally?
Yes — we ship worldwide.
How fast do you ship?
Orders ship in 2–3 business days.
Are the photos on the website of the actual bowl I will receive?
Yes. Every bowl is one‑of‑a‑kind, and the photos show the exact piece you will receive.
Do your bowls make good gifts?
Absolutely. Each bowl is unique, heirloom‑grade, and arrives with a Certificate of Authenticity.
How are your bowls packaged?
Bowls are wrapped securely, cushioned, boxed, and shipped with their Certificate of Authenticity.
What happens if my bowl arrives damaged?
Contact us immediately — we will make it right.
Do you accept returns or exchanges?
Yes — see our Refund Policy for details.
Do you take custom orders or commissions?
At this time, we do not offer custom commissions.
AUTHENTICITY & DOCUMENTATION
Do you include a Certificate of Authenticity?
Yes — every bowl includes a signed, embossed certificate with photos, serial number, wood species, dimensions, weight, and completion date. In addition, each bowl is branded on the bottom with the Talking Wood Studio Logo
OTHER QUESTIONS
Can I visit your studio?
The studio is not open to the public at this time.
How can I learn more about the wood used in my bowl?
Visit our Wood Glossary for detailed descriptions of every species we use.
How can I contact you?
Email: contact@talkingwoodstudio.com Phone: 1‑818-694-8647