Our house abuts a large pear orchard (Red Bartletts).  When a section of trees was removed to make room for a vineyard, I was able to reclaim some of the pear wood.

This wood turns beautifully, and it has very distinctive figuring and grain.

The open section on the outside, surrounded by bark, gives the finished piece a bit of a decaying look which contrasts nicely with the polished wax finish.