THE OLIVE TRAIL
IRISH PEAT BOG OAK GIFTS HANDMADE BY MIK EXCLUSIVE GIFTS
On our travels we came across an Irish man who told us that bog oak is "stacked up and burnt" - "Oh no" Mike said, "perhaps I can rescue some, I will make a pen" - the rest is history!
Our Irish peat bog oak is from County Antrim, Northern Ireland and is
up to 7,000 years old. The Queens University in Belfast have recorded
4,000-bog oak and other ancient oak timbers that spans some 7,000 years.
This timber which is unique to the ancient peat bogs of Ireland is inextricably
linked with Irish history and is one of the more majestic woods used in
turning, with a jet-black hue akin to ebony.
Bog Oak is obtained in the huge peat bogs which once covered the Irish
landscape. They are retrieved from where they have been buried for over
5000 years, coming to the surface as a result of peat production and "turf
cutting" for fuel. It's finite availability coupled with it's unique
link to Irish heritage and history makes it an ideal souvenir of Ireland.
The lack of oxygen in waterlogged peat prevents the natural process of
decay and ensures the tree trunks and stumps are preserved for years in
the accumulating peat.
The preservation of the wood in the bog gave the timber strength and durability.
Past uses for bogwood included structural timber for houses, rope, fuel,
deal torches, thatches, and salmon spearing. People would search bogs
for areas wherever the early morning dew, frost, or snow disappeared first,
these areas suggested the presence of buried wood. A long metal probe
was used to confirm the presence of timber. It is said that an experienced
hand was able to tell the size, the way in which the timber lay, the tree
species and the quality of the timber, all with a metal pole.
Today bogwood has particular importance for artists and scientists in
the creation of wondrous work and the world’s past climatic changes
respectively.