These high-shine beauties are made from gorgeously figured maple, cut to reveal the medulliary rays. This maple was from a luthier who could not use it, despite its beauty, because larvae of the ambrosia beetle (or some other sneaky critter) chewed little holes throughout the wood. 
 
In addition to making the wood that much more colorful, these little holes and pockets also remind us that we are only one of many species that find the gift of wood so precious and useful. The added dimensions shine with incredible luminosity under a refractive shellac finish. 
 
Dyed with luthiers' aniline dyes. Nickel-free brass hardware with niobium earwires.