The Wood

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The Wood Finds Me

The passion Mark feels for not only wood in general, but specifically native New Zealand wood, can only be described as spiritual. Each plank has a history etched within its grain, and Mark is the man who can interpret it. He exposes stunning rorschach-esque patterns in his products, reminiscent of a jeweller excavating diamond from a rock. Like all art forms the power of each piece lies far beneath the visual, extending into the historical, emotional, and personal. The effect Mark’s art has on a person depends on the viewer of course, and their level of interest in the piece. A basic curiosity however will reveal the depth of Marks investment into his work.

The diverse nature of New Zealand’s native forest flora has attracted botanists from around the globe for centuries. Mark’s work with New Zealand timber however, is on a more personal level rather than scientific. His woodcraft connects him to his heritage, and in turn fuels a respect and love for New Zealand that he is passionate about sharing. So far Mark has correctly identified 43 native timbers, and seeks to eventually showcase all of our native woods in the form of decorative inlay.

This decorative fern displayed on the door of his workbench is a prime example of Marks artistry and commitment to his work. It took 3 days to produce and contains Kohekohe, Hoheria and Totara.

Did You Know?

Our Colonial furniture evolved from the English Pattern Books into a look of its own that is distinctly NZ and uses our native timbers to look their best. Functional and decorative, the wood draws you in to look and is silky smooth to touch.
American and English Oak has the masculine quality of strength and coarseness. This reflects a style that has continued through the ages with a country furniture look: cruder, but functional and strong. Designed to be used.
French Oak along with Mahogany and Walnut is a lot finer in grain and more feminine so pieces made from these woods tend to be more formal and decorative.
Kauri has a rich, brown colouring but often ranges from golden yellow to deep red. Kauri is a favourite for building and was exported around the world throughout the 19C. It is a perfect wood for the cabinetmaker, easy to work with, silky and has a fine grain.
Rimu is a slow-growing tree that matures after 500-1000 years. It is a handsome timber of deep red colour with dark or light and sometimes even yellow streaks. Rimu is perfect for general building, flooring and bridge beams because of its durability. It is also unique in the fact that one piece of wood may contain streaks of over 12 different colours, from purples to yellows and even black.
Totara is one of Mark’s favourite woods. Perfect for building and joinery, Totara is light and strong; with a tight, even grain. Mature trees produce a deep red or even purple colour with a silky grain, making it a beautiful choice for furniture. The Totara, in Mark’s opinion, reflects the beauty and unique nature of New Zealand.
Matai is one of New Zealand’s more rare native woods, is slow-growing and very hard. It is more brittle than other woods, yet produces a very rich red-brown finish. Matai is a favourite for flooring due to its durability.