History of Bogwood

Celtic Bog Oak - over 5,000 years old

At the end of the last glaciation almost 10000 years ago Ireland was covered by shallow lakes left behind by the melting ice. Over time these shallow lakes gradually filled with peat, which is the soil made up of the partially decomposed remains of dead plants.

Oak and yew trees grew around the edges of the bogs and were drowned as the bogs expanded out of their basins, on to the surrounding mineral soil. The lack of oxygen in the waterlogged peat prevented the natural process of decay and ensured the tree stumps were preserved in the accumulating peat.

The three main types of wood found preserved in bogs today are:- Scots Pine, Oak and Yew.

They can be from 4000 to 7000 years old.

With the advent of turf production and land drainage these ancient bogwoods have been found. We gather these bogwoods of oak and yew from the peat lands of Ireland and take them back to our studio where they go through a slow process of drying.

It is from these beautiful trees that adorned our Irish landscale 5000 years ago, that we carefully craft pieces for the modern living space.

Of Interest: The History of Ogham - earliest form of Irish writing