Black Walnut, Pink Ivory, and Birdseye Maple End Grain Exotic Hardwood Cutting Board, Cheese Plate or Charcuterie Board - 10 1/4” l x 9” w x 3/4" h

Handmade in the USA, finished with food safe, long lasting and water resistant Mahoney’s walnut oil (3 coats) and wax (2 coats).

End grain means that the end of the wood fibers are exposed, whereas edge grain means that the grain is running along the outside. The major difference is that end grain is resistant to cuts and scarring and is even self-healing over time, as the density of the fibers will push back into place. This is why there are even some softwoods that are used for making butcher blocks, as the benefit of end grain surpasses the benefits of using a hardwood with edge grain.

Pink Ivory remains one of the most elusive, coveted and highly desirable of all the world’s many exotic woods. Despite being indigenous to Southern Africa, the wood is rare throughout its home continent. What isn’t exported abroad is said to be hoarded by rich, hierarchical families throughout Africa, as the wood is considered to be on the same level of value as diamonds and emeralds.

Birdseye Maple is a title which does not, necessarily, denote a specific Acer species — but, rather, a unique figuring that occurs in maple as a result of numerous small to medium-sized knots accumulating in the wood. It remains one of the most coveted and sought-after of all figured maple varieties.  Although it has never been scientifically proven, the prevailing school of thought is that the figuring is reportedly caused by unfavorable growing conditions. As the tree attempts to access more sunlight, buds begin to sprout in its trunk — to try and grow more branches, to access more light — but the tree lacks the requisite nutrients to support the growth and the new shoots are aborted, resulting in “birdseyes” (small knots) embedded in the tree’s wood.






0122