Oriental Peppermill – Spalted Maple / Ziricote & Bronze

Description

Oriental Peppermill – Spalted Maple / Ziricote & Cast Bronze Handle

This is one of my artistic series of peppermills for which I spare no time or expense so that I can achieve what I simply call delightful! This is a truly one-of-a-kind mill cut from Pennsylvania spalted maple that I harvest locally. The top cap is turned from Ziricote, a wood native to Mexico and Central America. I cast the handle from bronze.

We hang two dimensional art on our walls, display three dimensional art on pedestals yet our dining room tables seem bare. It’s time for functional art to appear center stage in our living areas so that we can appreciate form along with function.

I created this mill around a ceramic-based crush grind mechanism which allows for the adjustment of grind from the bottom of the mill. This feature allows me the freedom to design and create a mill that is truly artistic in nature by not having a knob at the top of the mill breaking the form in any way and forcing me to design around any hardware. I also love the combination of metal and wood so I cast the bronze handle on the top of the mill from an original wax-up that I carve. I melt the bronze and force the molten metal into a mold using the lost-wax casting method. Essentially, I make jewelry for my peppermills. The bronze handle not only adds a unique feature to the mill but also adds leverage to the cap for easier grinding.

Filling these mills is simple. The top cap is held in place by a friction fit and simply pulling it up off the mill body removes the cap. This gives you access to a large reservoir for storing peppercorns or coarse salt. Because the mechanism is ceramic it can be used for either salt or pepper, your choice. Do not use table salt but a coarse flavorful one like sea salt or kosher salt.

This design features a sensuous, soft form that is also ergonomically pleasing for use in your hands. By continuously turning the top bronze handle clockwise a steady stream of ground pepper or salt, to your liking, will fall crisply onto all of your favorite dishes. The bottom nut adjusts pepper or salt from a fine to medium coarse grind.

To maintain the beautiful high gloss finish on this mill I recommend an automotive style paste wax with carnauba. The wax not only cleans but protects.  Guaranteed for life. (That would be my lifetime!)

• Features:
• 7 1/4″ Salt or Pepper Mill in Spalted Maple, Ziricote & Bronze
• Mechanisms: Ceramic – Crush grind
• Easy Fill
• Bottom Knob Adjusts Grind
• Mill Made in the USA by Ted Sokolowski