Quarter sawn wood is used for its stability. It is cut as a diameter of the log (not including the heartwood or sapwood) and getting a large piece like this requires a tree that is some 30" in diameter to avoid bark, sapwood and pith, so about 90 to 100 years old. I bought this blank to see how it would turn out, and I think the patterns are rather beautiful, with the medullary rays making a concentric pattern in contrast to the wood grain which runs straight across the bowl. It's easier to see in the YouTube short than the photos.
YouTube: quartersawnoak video
