How does the wood get that spalted pattern?
The pattern you see in the photo frames and wall plates is a cross section of the spalted wood. Spalting is the natural process of aging that takes place in the wood under moist conditions. The chemical and biological changes create the dark lines and light patches in the pattern you see. This pattern is an overlay on the more subtle concentric growth ring pattern from the cross-sectional cut. To spalt the wood, logs are stacked in the shade and kept moist for up to two years. After this period, the wood is kiln dried to tighten the grain and to stop the spalting process. Spalted wood is becoming better known and sought after by artisans and those who appreciate natural beauty.
