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Costa
Rican Cocobolo (Revisited)!
First displayed here in 2011 and then exhibited beginning, May 5, 2013. New boxes and bowls have continually been added and are on display today! |
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From Saper Galleries owner Roy Saper
In 2011 I returned from Costa Rica with dozens of wooden boxes, small trays and bowls made from the exotic hardwood cocobolo, named for the tree that grows in a narrow coastal region of that Central American country. In March 2013 I revisited Costa Rica to rediscover the artists who fabricated from dried fallen cocobolo trees, the beautiful wooden boxes that you see pictured below. I drove throughout the Alajuela province, stopping frequently to seek directions as I sought to find the wood-working artists whose workshops are without street or email addresses or phones. It was exciting to gradually recollect my bearings from my 2011 visit and surprisingly locate four artist workshops in Grecia, Sarchi, Naranja, and Escazu, Costa Rica where mounds of cocobolo logs would be transformed into highly polished, smooth, richly colored and grained boxes. Many of the roads leading to the workshops were bumpy dirt paths and the workshops were usually crudely constructed wooden frames covered with corrugated metal and pierced with large openings to the outside (without window glass). Drifts of sawdust collected everywhere and the air warranted breathing masks (though very few were seen) as the hand-operated lathes turned, saws sliced, and polishing wheels whirred. An occasional walk outside was necessary to clear the air and marvel at the beauty created from what looked like a pile of discarded, dried tree logs. Outdoors I watched an artisan sitting on a log, hand sanding shaped cocobolo that was transformed to be the top of a distinctive cocobolo wooden box with a unique lid handle. My excitement in rediscovering the cocobolo artistry in 2013 was as great as the initial discovery in 2011 that you can read about here (below). I hope you enjoy these boxes as much as I do. We sold out of most of what I brought back from Costa Rica two years ago and am delighted to now replenish our collection and ship new boxes to the many who requested them when we got more. For most styles we may have multiple boxes available, each with varying grain and some with darker or lighter colors, so just let us know if you would like us to email you photos of all we have in our current inventory of the style(s) you prefer -- while they last! What do you put in the boxes and bowls? Jewelry, your watch at night, car keys, lip balm, pocket change and wallet, eyeglasses, flash drive, your pin collection, love notes, keepsakes, sewing threads, pill containers, special mementos, and other items that you want to remember and protect. Many have bought them as gifts for occasions including graduations, weddings, all holidays, for parents and for children. Better than wine, flowers or candy, a cocobolo wood box will be a gift enjoyed and remembered always!. Thank you for having read this summary of my revisiting Costa Rica and for viewing the Saper Galleries unique cocobolo collection. |
 One of the artist workshops in Costa Rica  Inside one of the workshops  All the boxes below started as a log sawed by hand If you would like to see more photographs of the workshops, click here to see the photos at the bottom of this page. |
In many cases we have more than one box of the styles and sizes shown below, each with different grain and color. Please ask should you wish to receive photographs of others of a certain style so you can make a selection among all we have (that are not pictured). |
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| Chest shaped cocobolo wood box
with curved lid <New! 3 1/4" wide x 2 3/4 x 2 3/4" $65 |
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| Four nested chest-shaped
cocobolo wood boxes with curved lids <New! Largest is 3 1/4" wide x 2 3/4 x 2 3/4" Smallest is 1" wide and 3/4" tall $165 (Two photos above and two below are of the same four nested boxes) |
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 Three nested chest-shaped cocobolo wood boxes with curved lids <New! Largest is 2 3/16" wide Middle one is 1 1/2" wide Smallest is 1" wide $100 |
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 Curved top smoothed edge thin cocobolo box 3 1/8" wide x 3 1/8 x 1" $60 |
 Rectangular small cocobolo box <New! 4" wide x 2 1/2 x 1 3/4" $55 |
 Cocobolo case to hold your business cards and credit cards 2 5/8 x 4" and 7/16" thick Sorry, sold for $60 But we can have another made for you! |
 Cocobolo case to hold your business cards (Click photo to see curved lid swiveled open) 4 3/4 x 2 7/8 x 7/8" $90 |
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| Wide cocobolo and cristobal wood
box with T-shaped handle on hinged lid Good hiding place for chocolate candy bar. 4 x 7 1/8 x 1 5/8" Sorry, sold for $84 |
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| Wider deep jewelry box in
cocobolo wood with chamfered lid and sliding,
removable inner tray <New! 10 1/2 x 5 3/4 x 3" Sorry, sold for $186 (Two photos above and two below are of the same box) |
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| Square cocobolo wood box with
convex lid 4 3/4 x 4 3/4 x 2" $78 |
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| Wide cocobolo wood box with convex
lid 4 3/4 x 7 1/4 x 2" Sorry, sold for $98 |
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| Round
cocobolo wood vessel with stand and lid with handle 3 3/4" tall and 2 3/4" diameter Sorry, sold for $46 |
Solid block of cocobolo wood before being shaped and finished into a vessel as shown to the left |
| The cocobolo boxes and bowls shown below have all sold. | |
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| Wide two-tier jewelry box in
cocobolo wood with chamfered lid and upper and lower
level trays <New! 12 1/8 x 8 1/2 x 4 1/4" Sorry, sold for $268 (Two photos above and two below are of the same box) |
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| Deep jewelry box in cocobolo wood
with chamfered lid and sliding, removable inner tray
<New! 9 1/4 x 6 1/8 x 3" Sorry, sold for $162 (Two photos above and two below are of the same box) |
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| Larger wide cocobolo wood box with
long handle on hinged lid 4 3/4 x 8 1/2 x 2" Sorry, sold for $112 |
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| 2" diameter cocobolo wood box with
curved outside, wide base and overhang lid 1" tall Sorry, sold for $24 |
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| 3" diameter cocobolo wood box with
curved outside, wide base and overhang lid 1" tall Sorry, sold for $34 |
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 Costa Rican wood bowl 7" long x 6 1/2" wide x 3 3/8" tall Sorry, sold for $120 |
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 Cocobolo wood bowl C 6 1/2" long x 5 3/4" wide x 2 7/8" tall Sorry, sold for $120 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl C (side view) |
 Cocobolo wood bowl D 6 3/4" long x 5 7/8" wide x 3" tall Sorry, sold for $120 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl D (side view) |
 Cocobolo wood bowl J 7" long x 6" wide x 4 1/8" tall Sorry, sold for $140 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl J (side view) |
 Cocobolo wood bowl 7 1/2" long x 6 3/8" wide x 3 1/8" tall Sorry, sold for $120 |
 Cocobolo wood shallow round box with lid 4 1/2 round x 3 1/8" tall Sorry, sold for $66 |
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| Deep
jewelry box in cocobolo wood with chamfered lid and
sliding, removable inner tray 5 5/8 x 8 3/4 x 3" Sorry, sold for $148 |
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| Wider
deep jewelry box in cocobolo wood with chamfered lid
and sliding, removable inner tray 5 3/4 x 10 1/2 x 3" Sorry, sold for $174 |
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| Wider
two-tier jewelry box in cocobolo wood with chamfered
lid and upper and lower levels 8 x 11 1/2 x 3 3/4" Sorry, sold for $256 |
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| 2"
diameter cocobolo wood box with straight outside and
flush lid 1 1/2" tall Sorry, sold for $38 |
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| 2
3/4" diameter cocobolo wood box with curved outside
and lid 1 1/2" tall Sorry, sold for $44 |
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| 2 3/4" diameter cocobolo wood box
with straight outside and lid 2" tall Sorry, no longer available |
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| Cocobolo wood square box with
T-shaped handle on hinged lid 4 x 4 x 1 1/2" Sorry, sold for $46 |
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 Round cocobolo wood vessel with stand and lid with handle 5" tall and 3 1/2" diameter Sorry, sold for $56 |
 Round cocobolo wood vessel with stand and lid with handle 4" tall and 3" diameter Sorry, sold for $50 |
 Round cocobolo wood vessel with stand and lid with handle 3" tall and 2 1/8" diameter Sorry, sold for $40 |
 Round cocobolo wood vessel with stand and lid with handle 3 1/2" tall and 2 1/4" diameter Sorry, sold for $42 |
 Round cocobolo wood vessel with stand and lid with handle 3" tall and 2 1/4" diameter Sorry, sold for $40 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl A 7 5/8" long x 6 3/4" wide x 3 3/4" tall Sorry, sold for $150 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl B 6 7/8" long x 6" wide x 3 1/8" tall Sold for $130 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl E 6 7/8" long x 5 5/8" wide x 3 1/8" tall Sorry, sold for $130 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl F 7 1/2" long x 6 5/8" wide x 2 3/4" tall Sorry, sold for $130 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl F (side view) |
 Cocobolo wood bowl G 7 1/8" long x 6 5/8" wide x 4" tall Sorry, sold for $140 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl G (side view) |
 Cocobolo wood bowl H 7 1/2" long x 7" wide x 4" tall Sorry, sold for $150 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl H (side view) |
 Cocobolo wood bowl I 7 1/2" long x 6 1/2" wide x 4 1/8" tall Sorry, sold for $150 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl I (side view) |
 Cocobolo wood bowl K 7 1/8" long x 6" wide x 3 1/2" tall Sorry, sold for $120 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl K (side view) |
 Cocobolo wood bowl L 7 1/8" long x 6 3/8" wide x 4 1/8" tall Sorry, sold for $140 |
Cocobolo wood bowl L (side view) |
 Cocobolo wood bowl M 7" long x 6 3/4" wide x 4" tall Sorry, sold for $150 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl M (side view) |
 Cocobolo wood bowl N 7" long x 6 1/8" wide x 4" tall Sorry, sold for $140 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl N (side view) |
 Ron-ron wood bowl 8 5/8 x 7 5/8 x 3 1/2" Sorry, sold for $110 Ron-ron is a plantation grown Costa Rican wood (also known as goncalo alves) highly prized for its density, strength, dark veins, moisture resistance and strength. This deep bowl has a high luster polished finish. |
 Cocobolo wood bowl 9 1/4" long x 7 7/8" wide x 4 1/2" tall Sorry, sold for $150 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl 9" long x 7" wide x 3 3/8" tall Sorry, sold for $150 |
 Costa Rican wood bowl 9 1/2" long x 9" wide x 5 1/4" tall Sorry, sold for $180 |
 Costa Rican wood bowl 7" long x 6" wide x 4" tall Sorry, sold for $120 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl 7 1/2" long x 6 1/8" wide x 3 3/8" tall Sorry, sold for $120 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl 7" long x 6 1/8" wide x 3" tall Sorry, sold for $120 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl 7 1/4" long x 6" wide x 3" tall Sorry, sold for $120 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl 7 3/4" long x 6 1/2" wide x 3 7/8" tall Sorry, sold for $120 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl 9 1/4" long x 7 1/2" wide x 3" tall Sorry, sold for $150 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl 9" long x 7" wide x 3 5/8" tall Sorry, sold for $150 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl 9 1/8" long x 7 1/2" wide x 4 3/4" tall Sorry, sold for $150 |
 Cocobolo wood shallow round box with wide lid 6 round x 2 3/4" tall Sorry, sold for $82 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl 7 x 7 x 2 3/4" Sorry, sold for $120 |
 Cocobolo wood tray 5 1/2 square x 1 1/4" tall Sorry, sold for $46 |
 Cocobolo wood tray 6 x 3 3/8 x 1 1/8" tall Sorry, sold for $28 |
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| Cocobolo
wood
square box with long handle 4 x 4 x 1 1/2" Sorry, sold out at $44 |
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| Cocobolo wood wide box
with long
handle 4 x 7 1/8 x 1 5/8" Sorry, sold out at $84 |
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| Cocobolo wood wide box
with offset long
handle 4 3/4 X 8 1/2 X 2" $112 |
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| Cocobolo
wood
square box with convex lid 5 x 5 x 2" Sorry, sold out at $78 |
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| Cocobolo wood wide box with convex
lid 4 3/4 x 7 1/4 x 2" Sorry, sold out at $98 |
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| Cocobolo wood square box with
chamfered lid 5 1/8 x 5 1/8 x 1 5/8" Sorry, sold out at $78 |
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| Cocobolo wood wide box with chamfered
lid 5 1/8 x 6 1/4 x 1 1/2" Sorry, sold out at $88 |
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| Cocobolo
wood
wide box with chamfered lid with arc handle and three
compartments 5 5/8 x 10 3/8 x 2 1/4" Sorry, sold for $156 |
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| Cocobolo
wood
wide
box
in book shape 5 X 7 1/8 x 1 7/8" Sorry, sold for $112 |
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 Cocobolo wood round box with convex lid 5 1/4 round x 1 7/8" tall Sorry, sold for $64 |
 Cocobolo wood tall round box with lid 5 1/2 round x 4 1/2" tall Sorry, sold for $88 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl 7 1/2 x 6 3/4 x 2 1/8" Sorry, sold for $120 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl 8 x 7 1/2 x 3 1/2" Sorry, sold for $180 |
 Cocobolo wood tray 6 x 4 3/8 x 2" Sorry, sold for $74 |
 Cocobolo wood bowl 6 3/4 x 5 5/8 x 2 1/4" Sorry, sold for $110 |
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A message from gallery
owner Roy Saper
In early 2011 my son, Jay, and I
visited Costa Rica to seek out the best craftsmen of
wooden boxes. What excited us about the wood
workers in Costa Rica is that they used their native
exotic cocobolo wood, a close cousin to and often
mistaken for Brazilian rosewood. Cocobolo is one
of the most expensive woods to purchase and at 65 pounds
per cubic foot it is twice the weight of cherry and so
dense that it sinks rather than floats. The wood
is used for gunstocks and knife handles (as the natural
oils in the wood serve as a barrier to water
absorption). It is so hard that it easily and
quickly dulls cutting tools. As you can see from the photos below, the heartwood of the cocobolo tree is a beautiful rich color with exquisite grain and it polishes to a beautiful luster, in part due to its natural oils. The incredibly beautiful boxes that Jay and I hand-selected from the artist workshops are from cocobolo trees harvested per special permit issued by the Costa Rican government. In Costa Rica there are managed tree farms that grow the cocobolo to ensure that sustainable practices provide a continued supply of the exotic wood. Outside the workshops we saw cut cocobolo trees that would some day become boxes like these that we were so excited to discover and bring back home to Saper Galleries for you to enjoy. Note that these boxes are solid cocobolo, not a thin veneer on a less expensive wood. The inside bottom of each box is covered with a black padded material. The interior sides are of the same quality, finely sanded smooth finish as the exterior. The larger boxes are spline joined at the corners to ensure perfect joints (and also in that it is difficult for glues to hold due to the natural oils in the wood). Jay and I marveled while watching box lids being individually and literally hand sanded with small pieces of sand paper, a laborious, slow process that produced mounds of saw dust as each piece was treated with care and pride. As you have any questions about these cocobolo wooden boxes please call or email us now. If you want a unique gift for yourself or others you know, I guarantee you will enjoy and share in our excitement about the cocobolo wood boxes from Costa Rica. These are not the wooden boxes you see at art fairs. These are for the discerning collector who appreciates the exotic hardwood unique to the Pacific coastal region of Costa Rica and who loves the design, finish, feel, quality and beauty of cocobolo. Enjoy! |
 Roy with one of the artists after he and photographer Jay hand-selected dozens of cocobolo wood boxes from the workshop in Costa Rica.  This stack of cocobolo wood is destined to be made into the boxes you see in the photos below! Note the heartwood center surrounded by the lighter color sapwood. The boxes we selected are all from the dark, richer heartwood with some displaying highlights of the lighter color sapwood. |
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| Raw logs and trimmed wooden blocks
before being shaped |
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| Views of the largest workshop that we
discovered in 2011 and revisited in 2013 (with the same
guard dog!) |
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 View outside of that large workshop |
 Inside another workshop |
 And view outside that workshop |
 Logs awaiting transformation |
 Wood sorted and stored outside one of the workshops |
 Block of wood ready to be turned on a lathe |
 Tools used for shaping wood turned on lathe |
 Hand sanding each component of every box |
 Structure to be future workshop near one wood worker's home |
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Saper
Galleries....where excellence is the standard!
433 Albert Avenue East Lansing, Michigan 48823 USA (517)351-0815