This private collection was inspired by organic elements found in nature. It was a deeply introspective project and the challenge evolved into eight one-of-a-kind heirloom pieces. These cues afforded me the opportunity to tap into my vintage selection of exotic woods and explore unique avenues for my cue making process.
WAVES
This cue originates with Burmese Blackwood in the forearm and butt sleeve, bold in color with a deep grain. In the handle silver and bronze wire was inlaid to represent the current of water with Paua Abalone waves and synthetic ivory colored whitecaps in a sea of Australian Brown Malle wood. Blackwood rings inlaid with matching Abalone waves cuff the handle to the forearm and butt sleeve.
CHAIN OF LAKES
The Chain of Lakes cue was inspired by the many rivers that connect our lakes throughout the country. It begins with a Tulipwood forearm and matching butt sleeve. Then silver wire winds its way through the Australian Coolibah wrap to a series of lakes. The lakes were formed by inlaying Korean Awabi and Japanese Awabi Abalone to signify water, then framed in Rosewood and Leopardwood to give the appearance of a shore line. Matching inlaid Tulipwood rings act as cuffs tying the forearm and butt sleeve to the handle.
RAIN
This cue uses an African Blackwood forearm and butt sleeve as its canvas inlaid with varying lengths of streaming silver wire followed by Korean Awabi drops of rain with Korea Awabi, Paua Awabi, and Agoya Abalone layered together in the butt sleeve giving the appearance of the rain striking the surface of the water. Buckeye Burl is used in the wrap section for its stormy colors and beautiful grain. Matching Blackwood rings in the handle are pelted with puddles of Green Turban Abalone.
CURRENT
In the last of the water cues Green Abalone Ripple was inlaid and framed with Ebony to signify the ocean's current in a background of Kingwood. A select piece of Madrone Burl in the handle adds subtle texture and holds rings of Kingwood splashed with matching Abalone inlays.
EUCALYPTUS
The foundation of this cue is its stunning handle design born from the Eucalyptus tree. We began the wrap section with Gaboon Ebony and inlaid over 100 intertwined leaves of Eucalyptus wood which required 17 different cycles in the milling lathe. The Beeswing Narra forearm and butt sleeve are inlaid with a forest of silver wire trees.
OAK LEAF
This cue is all about the mighty Oak tree. It begins with a Madagascar Ebony forearm and butt sleeve wrapped with twisted copper, silver, and bronze wire. The story of this cue lies in the handle where bronze wire leaves float in a breeze of Australian Lace Sheoak. Over 30 hours were spent hand forming and inlaying the nearly 16 feet of wire leaves.
LOTUS
A Spalted Tamarind handle forms the pond for which Awabi and Agoya Abalone lotus flowers float amongst Malachite lily pads. We then added a tangle of bronze and copper wire to the forearm and butt sleeve using Black and White Ebony as a back drop.
BAMBOO
More time was spent designing this tropical inspired cue than actually making it. Almost 250 inlays of Asian Satinwood form a pattern of bamboo decorating the Black Palm wood handle of this intriguing piece. Bronze wire carves its way through the Asian Satinwood forearm and butt sleeve.
