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Bog Woods
Bog woods are found all over the world in many different types of environments. Peat Bogs, Swamp Bogs, River Bottoms, and Dry Lake Beds are just some of the places these woods are found. One thing they have in common is they are all OLD. Below are the types that I have been able to find.
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Celtic Irish Bog Oak
Celtic Irish Bog Oak Surface Planed
Celtic Irish Bog Oak Log Section Old photo of farmers excavating a Bog Oak in Ireland |
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Quercus Robur |
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Celtic Irish Bog Oak (also known as Bog Oak, Irish Bog Oak, Irish Ebony and Morta) |
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Some 5000 years ago the landscape of the world was much different than it is today.
The Mesopotamians introduced the Shekel as a form of currency and weight.
The Sumarians first established cities and began working with various metals.
The Chinese developed the potter's wheel.
The Minoan civilization was just taking root on Crete.
The Ancient city of Troy was founded in Turkey.
The Namer Palette was made in Egypt, some of the earliest hieroglyphics.
Caral, the earliest known settlement in the Americas, was built in Peru.
The total population of the world was 30 million. (There are over 35 million in California alone today)
The first incarnation of Stonehenge was constructed in England. The massive Sarsen stones would not be in place for another 500 years.
And an Oak tree fell over in a bog in Ireland.
The tree would be covered with layers of peat. The lack of oxygen in the waterlogged peat prevented the decay of the wood, preserving it for millennia. During that time the Tannins in the wood would have a chemical reaction with soluble iron in the water to stain the wood a dark, nearly black, color. In fact, for many years this Celtic Irish Bog Oak was used as a substitute for other black woods such as Ebony.
That tree, like many of the things listed above, would lie waiting to be rediscovered for thousands of years.
I find myself constantly amazed that I have the opportunity to work with a material with such a deep history. Did Merlin rest under this Celtic Irish Bog Oak, a piece of which is in my hand, when he accompanied Arthur Pendragon and 1500 knights to Ireland on a quest to relocate the Megalithic Sarsen Stones of Stonehenge to their current resting place in England? Or was this the Celtic Irish Bog Oak that cast shade on a Pictish lass as she gathered berries in the woods? Might be that this is the Celtic Irish Bog Oak that a Druid collected acorns from for his evening meal? Who can say, but suffice it to say that this wood IS history.
Unlike the things listed above, that tree can be welcomed into your home today as a piece of art. A piece of history. A piece of Ireland.
After much research on the net and many emails, I now have a supply of this wonderful wood in my shop. I hope to maintain an inventory of my own artwork in this material as well as other artists' also as time goes on. Please see Celticworks for some of my pieces. |
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The Prince by Kurt A. Huhn The Regent by Kurt A. Huhn
Both the above pipes were carved by Kurt from wood that I supplied to him. Find his site in Links. |
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Agathis Australis |
Quercus Alba |
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Ancient Kauri |
West Virginia Bog Oak |
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At between 35,000-50,000 years old this is the oldest workable wood in the world.
Kauri Trees are large Conifers similar to the Sequoias in California. One of the main excavators in New Zealand used a chainsaw to carve an internal spiral staircase in a Kauri Stump that their office was then built around. |
Dated by geologist to approx. 10,000 years old using sediment layers. This wood is very similar in appearance to the Celtic Irish Bog Oak that I have. |
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Carya Sp. |
Fagus Grandifolia |
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West Virginia Bog Hickory |
Crib Beech |
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Found at the same site as the WV Bog Oak above, 10,000 year old Hickory is not a site you see every day. |
From a 90 year old underwater crib near where the Gauley and New Rivers meet. The Extremely cold Mineral rich waters prevent decay and stain the woods in interesting ways. |
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Castanea Dentata |
Carya Sp. |
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Crib Chestnut |
Crib Hickory |
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From a 90 year old underwater crib near where the Gauley and New Rivers meet. The Extremely cold Mineral rich waters prevent decay and stain the woods in interesting ways. |
From a 90 year old underwater crib near where the Gauley and New Rivers meet. The Extremely cold Mineral rich waters prevent decay and stain the woods in interesting ways. |
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Populus Alba |
Quercus Rubra |
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Crib Poplar |
Crib Red Oak |
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From a 90 year old underwater crib near where the Gauley and New Rivers meet. The Extremely cold Mineral rich waters prevent decay and stain the woods in interesting ways. |
From a 90 year old underwater crib near where the Gauley and New Rivers meet. The Extremely cold Mineral rich waters prevent decay and stain the woods in interesting ways. |
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Quercus Alba |
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Crib White Oak |
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From a 90 year old underwater crib near where the Gauley and New Rivers meet. The Extremely cold Mineral rich waters prevent decay and stain the woods in interesting ways. |
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