All you want to know about Bog
Wood but were afraid to ask…
Approximately 6000 thousand years ago Ireland
had many great forests of oak, yew and pine. Where are they today? Well, the
ruthless farming techniques of many Stone Age farmers and some fairly dramatic
climate changes destroyed much of the tree cover and when that was gone marshy
bog lands developed which covered much of what remained and buried it for years
and years.
The trees and stumps left behind became waterlogged and
eventually buried as the bogs expanded. They were preserved in anaerobic (no
oxygen) bog waters. This slowed and eventually stopped the decaying process and
the tannins in the water worked to change the colour of the wood. The remains
of these forests are found 4.5m – 6m deep in the bogs.
The trees while being preserved have undergone great chemical
changes over time. The wood changes colour determined by the type of bog and
area. Bog Wood is sourced from bog lands in Longford, Westmeath, Roscommon and
Offaly. Modern life practices such as development, road building and demands
for fuels have all been cutting away at the bog lands for many years which has
exposed this rich artist’s treasure. Bog Wood is a rare resource which is unique both in colour and feel.
Once the wood is out of the bog you can imagine there is a
long drying period and this can take from 1-4 years to complete. Some wood is
kiln dried to speed up the process but artists need to be very careful here as
this can make the wood brittle. At Irish Gift Solutions though we only choose
the best air dried Bog Wood pieces. No two are the same and we have great fun
guessing the shapes when we receive a new batch. Bog Wood is a timeless link to
our heritage and provides an elegant yet sturdy gift for all special occasion.
Bog Wood can be engraved to create very individual gifts for weddings, anniversaries, christening gifts from Godparents. Bog wood is also an impressive addition to the opening of a new building or premises.
Who would have though that the depths of these bogs would
provide artists with their raw material and inspiration?
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