Our nephew has woodworking as a hobby and he has found an amazing scene in an Ambrosia Maple plaque. Ambrosia Maple is a general term attached to a variety of Acer (true maple) species whose boards included colorful bug “trails” — caused by a fungus carried by the Ambrosia Beetle which penetrates the tree sap as the beetle eats into the tree, and it spreads both through the worm hole and up and down in the tree (carried along by the sap) and causes discoloring of the wood in streaks. !!
Without much imagination one can see the ascending Christ in the upper center, the left behind followers below it, and the two figures
on either side can be visioned as the heavenly hosts.
Here are a few examples of how some artists have painted the scene from a Google images search.
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 He was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (ESV)
Act 1:7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
Act 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Act 1:9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
Act 1:10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,
Act 1:11 and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." (ESV)
RETURN
Appendix A - Plaque Details
The center feature in the ambrosia maple wood was formed by sawing 1/4 inch slices and gluing the two pieces together to form a semi-mirror image, an imperfect mirror image because the colorful wood designs vary throughout the boards thickness. The colorful borders consist of Bloodwood from South America, and brown grained Sapele from Africa. Including a thin plywood backing, the full plaque consists of 15 pieces glued together with Titebond III adhesive, sanded and coated with a clear Varathane finish. The scene's detail seemed to show best when a slight tint developed from photography focused on an enlargement of the primary area of interest.