About this Piece

This woodburned mango wood cutting board features a humpback mother and calf. Kathryn burned this design by hand to accentuate the natural features of the wood grain. The back of the board is plain wood, and both surfaces can be used. Wood burning, also known as pyrography, is a technique that uses a red hot tip to burn patterns into wood freehand.

The board has been treated with a Canadian made food safe finish incorporating vegetable oils and waxes. The board is suitable to use on its own or inside one of the rectangular or square trays as a cutting surface. This board measures approximately 12” x 6” x 1” and has a small cutout handle.

This set comes with a matching spreader knife, featuring an octopus arm woodburned onto the handle.

The board and knife will be packaged with a ribbon and tag featuring care instructions, and shipped in eco friendly packaging.

Kathryn works with mango and acacia wood because these woods are fast growing and sustainable hardwoods, maturing in only 15 years. Mango wood is a byproduct of mango fruit production, and is harvested when the trees are too old or tall to be suitable for growing fruit, making room for young fruiting trees to be replanted. This durable hardwood has a lot of character in the grain. These are one of a kind, handmade pieces made from natural wood, and Kathryn chooses the pieces with an interesting grain. Most pieces will have small flaws, knots or tiny cosmetic cracks if you look very closely, but they’re durable and functional. Check photos carefully and message us for any clarifications.

Care Instructions

Wipe clean with a damp cloth. Condition the wood regularly by wiping with food safe mineral oil and a soft cloth. Small knife scratches can be sanded periodically, applying wood oil afterward.

Not recommended for immersion in water, dishwasher cleaning or storage outdoors.

About Shipping and Currency

This piece will ship from British Columbia, and all prices on the site are in US dollars. Shipping is free for all destinations in Canada or the United States, and no duty is charged on artwork, although local taxes may apply based on your destination.

Read more about the shipping and other policies here, or learn about our sustainability practices or work with nonprofits.

About this Species

Humpback Whale

Humpback whales are baleen whales that feed on plankton. They migrate huge distances every year, from the warm tropical waters where they breed and nurse their calves, to the cold, nutrient rich waters of BC and Alaska where they feed. Male humpback whales sing complex songs to females during breeding season.

The humpback population is recovering from historical whaling, and many more humpbacks exist in BC’s waters than they did a few decades ago. This increase in humpback whales’ numbers presents new risks for humpbacks, as they are vulnerable to boat collisions and entanglement in fishing gear. Our Kelp Forest series beneficiary MERS has been instrumental in monitoring humpbacks’ numbers by identifying and cataloguing each whale as an individual, and providing boater safety information for avoiding accidents.

All images remain copyright © Kathryn Beals.