Cutting Board No. 3 of 5

A numbered edition of five cutting boards.

The walnut inlay is the signature of the series: one pattern, authored for this edition, at its largest here. Every board carries it. When the edition closes, the pattern retires with it.

Why edge grain
Most premium boards are end grain, so it is fair to ask why this one is not.

End grain is easier on a knife's edge. That part is true: the fibers part around the blade instead of being cut. But at a home counter the difference is small. A couple of extra sharpenings a year, not a saved knife. It only compounds into something meaningful at production volume, and production kitchens do not cut on wood: health codes put plastic under nearly every professional knife, and plastic is harder on an edge than any wood.

I chose edge grain for what it makes possible. The face is one continuous surface, so the grain runs the length of the board and the pattern has a canvas. End grain is a grid of small blocks; this design needs the long line. Edge grain is also the more stable construction. It resists cracking and warping, and it forgives a missed oiling. An end grain board asks to be maintained. This one asks to be used.

Feet
Rubber feet lift the board off the counter. Air moves underneath, so it dries flat and even. They grip, too. No slide while you work.

Cherry
Firm enough to last. The grain is tight and closed, the surface smooth and dense.

Patina
Cherry darkens as it lives. Blonde now. Amber within the year. Richer every year after. The patina is earned. A new board cannot fake it.

Northeastern wood
Grown in the hardwood forests of the Northeast. Worked and finished here in Maine.

Each board carries its mark. Maine Object Company. Kitchen Series. The number of the edition.

The board

• 18 x 12 x 1.5 in
• Edge-grain cherry, walnut inlay
• Finished with food-safe oil
• Shipping calculated at checkout

Care
Hand wash, towel dry. Re-oil when the surface looks dry. Never soak. Never the dishwasher.

Ships boxed and marked.