Jiri Kalina
Wood
Malinda

My work is inspired by my appreciation of natural, simple objects that have beauty and function and by my love of woodcarving. As I was growing up in the Czech Republic, my father and grandfather taught me about the creative and functional potential of wood. My father was a skilled woodcarver, and my grandfather helped to restore wooden parts of churches. Since immigrating to the United States, I have established my home in Wilmington, North Carolina, where I work as an antiques restorer and, in my spare time, create wooden products for the home and kitchen, primarily, spoons, spatulas, bowls, and cutting boards. All these items are food safe and designed to look beautiful even as they are being used every day. 

All products showcased here are hand-crafted by me -- from start to finish -- mainly from birds-eye maple, cherry, or walnut wood from sustainably harvested trees. Birds-eye maple, for example, is a dense wood that is resistant to scratches. . I craft each item from personally selected pieces of wood and use great care to highlight the wood’s unique features. Any visible variation from similar items is not an imperfection, but rather a testimony of the item’s individual character. The photos here represent the products for sale: each item sold will vary slightly from the photos – due to the distinct nature of each piece of wood. If you are looking for something different from the specific products I am offering here, please contact me. I may be able to fulfill your special order.