Ancient Kauri wood snare

[letusprey]

This is a segment shell made of Ancient Kauri wood dug up out of a swamp in New Zealand. It was perfectly preserved and has been carbon dated to be 35k-50k years old. It is the worlds oldest workable wood. The photo doesn't catch the figuring well but it looked like caramel with pearl in it. Very unique and one I am proud to have been able to work with.

Thanks for looking and hope you enjoy this one!

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s15/KDAslett/Kauri.jpg

[horse painter]

Man you are killing me!!!

That is one gorgeous snare drum. Wish I had the cash and time to start playing again.

[Annie]

Wow! That is so incredible. It's beautiful as it is, but even more knowing where the wood came from and how old it is.

Awesome work. You have some skills!!!!
:flowers:

[letusprey]

I found a few more of the shell before assembly. The other photo didn't really show the finish very well. I didn't feel like uploading them to my photobucket account tonight so . . .

[Annie]

The extra pics are really worth it. That wood grain is gorgeous!

[letusprey]

Thank you. It really was a beautiful piece of wood. I have worked with a lot of exotic species but out of all of them the pearlescent effect with this wood was remarkable.

[Head Roller]

Wow... that is really very very cool...

[Palepainter]

I wonder how they get that endgrain to wrap so well.

[letusprey]

I wonder how they get that endgrain to wrap so well.


Wrap? I am not sure what you mean, is that a g-tar word? :35:

[painterguy]

some sweet work! what a cool piece of history on the wood too ! i'll bet the pics don't do it justice too ! ( not knockin yer pic takin skills)
thanx for sharin !

[letusprey]

Here is a link to some info on the wood, a guitar made of this would be a beauty! Hint hint.

http://www.ancientwood.com/kauri-story

[shane]

awesome wood man, what a beautiful grain! and the pearlescent is outstanding!

got a question tho, are you in prison or somethin? i see razor wire! :dunno:

[letusprey]

got a questin tho, are you in prison or somethin? i see razor wire! :dunno:



Haha! No, that was taken behind the shop I was working at. The yard was fenced in to keep out the coyotes . . . it was in Arizona.

[Kat]

Beautiful drum no matter where you made it.... Alot of the shops around here have similar fence systems. We have a huge problem with theft locally, it works.
You do lovely work....

[Iamedogg]

I wood be nervous hitting that thing. I bet it resonates sound like it was 35K years old!!!

[PJ1964]

That is some nice craftmanship. How did you get the Kauri all the way to the US? In NZ the Kauri is considered taonga (treasure) by the Maori. As well as being beautifully rich, it has a beautiful aroma also when being worked. Kauri was milled as common lumber to build houses etc when NZ was being settled and up until the 1950's and consequently got seriously depleted. Now it is a protected species and can be seen in forests around the country. The largest Kauri tree still standing is named Tane Mahuta - Lord of the Forest and has a massive girth, yet it is nothing compared to Kauri that was milled in the past. 'Swamp Kauri' is Kauri that has fallen in the ancient past and been preserved in swamp for thousands of years - probably what that piece is. Some 'Heart Kauri' can be especially deep red in colour. It certainly is a special wood with a real spirit about it. Cool