Born in New York, Buz Blum spent time as a musician—a friend of Bob Dylan—before he moved to Alaska in 1968, where he spent 34 years as a woodturner, innkeeper, and alpaca farmer. He was a founding charter member of the American Association of Woodturners. Most of his work comes from wood he cut from his 80-acre property near Anchorage; the scraps were used as bedding for his farm animals, or fuel for his wood stove.

This piece from Buz is carved from Alaskan birch wood and features a darkened track around the rim. The rim itself has a rough finish, highlighting the beauty of the natural.

Signed on the bottom with the name “Buz,” “Birch,” and the I-Ching hexagram that represents mountain, stillness, and meditation.

Measures 9“ wide x 4.5“ high x 8“ deep.