For the Japanese maple connoisseur who has everything: A "Complete Japanese Maple bath made of solid wood" from ebay listing. I came across this while looking for a new bath and was suitably impressed. I don't think most people in my country would even think of having a wooden bath. Unfortunately it is unsuitable for my application, and also expensive (but good value, assuming it would last well). (By the way, I am not pimping the site, or trying to promote it in any way, just pointing it out for the benefit and amusement of maple enthusiasts. Hopefully there will be no need to remove the link, but if so, then ok.)
One wonders from what source this wood derives...? Are there maple groves grown for this purpose, or are trees harvested from wild areas?
Good question. It is not apparent what species of maple is used for this bath even. Despite it being a "Japanese maple bath" the maples may not be Japanese themselves. Certain American and European species of maple are used in woodworking and joinery, and I believe are considered valuable timber, but I don't know if they are grown commercially, and I have no idea about use of Acers palmatum, japonicum and shirasawanum etc in this respect at all. Still a nice bath though ;-)
Looks very useful for when you need to bathe your Japanese Maples. ;-) Presumably made from the wood of one of the larger, faster-growing maples, perhaps Acer pictum. And likely grown as a commercial timber crop.
