Handmade wood can vary in visible grain, outline and colour. An arrival record captures the particular cutting board delivered to you without treating natural variation as a defect or repeating unsupported claims about durability, hygiene or performance.

Photograph before first use

Unpack the board on a clean, dry surface and retain the packaging until the initial check is complete. In indirect daylight, photograph the full front, full back and each edge. Add one close view of a distinctive grain area and one profile view that shows the actual outline.

Place a ruler beside—not on top of—the board if dimensions matter. Include the package label in a separate photo so it does not obscure the wood.

Use a visible-condition checklist

• overall shape and any natural-looking asymmetry;
• light and dark grain areas;
• colour in daylight and ordinary kitchen light;
• corners, handle or hanging opening, if present;
• visible marks, chips or packaging damage.

Describe observations neutrally: “dark streak near one edge” is more useful than guessing the wood species or cause. Do not wet, oil, wash or cut on the board before deciding whether an arrival concern needs to be reported.

Create a contact sheet

Put the six clearest images into one album and name it with the arrival date and order reference. Keep original, unedited files. If contacting the seller, pair one overall photograph with one close-up and explain where the detail sits on the board.

After the arrival record is complete, follow the product’s actual care instructions. The record does not certify food safety or predict how the board will age.

Add one scale photograph with the board beside a familiar neutral object whose size is known, but keep that object away from the cutting surface. This helps distinguish shape and proportion later without pretending the picture replaces measured dimensions. Record measurements separately if the order needs them.

The Rustic Style Cutting Board listing is the current product reference. Compare the delivery with its current description while expecting the physical board’s own grain and colour to be the final evidence.