designTimber - Fenland Black Oak

In this webinar we heard about the incredible Fenland Black Oak project - winner of the Bespoke category in the Wood Awards 2022.
Project lead Hamish Low and designer Mauro Dell’Orco were joined by archaeologist Dr Francis Pryor and pre-historic wood expert Maisie Taylor, as they explained how a section of 5,000-year-old oak tree, found preserved underground in East Anglian bog land, was transformed into a spectacular 13-metre public table.
Speakers:
Hamish Low - Fenland Black Oak CIO project lead
Hamish is an expert on the preservation of Black Oak and project lead for the Fenland Black Oak CIO, a charitable trust created to preserve the heritage and historical importance of the Jubilee Oak and Fenland Black Oak more generally. Together with his wife Nicola Adamson, he has a cabinet making business ‘Adamson and Low’, specializing in bespoke commissions using native hardwoods.
Dr Francis Pryor MBE - archaeologist
Francis is an archaeologist specializing in the study of the Bronze and Iron Ages in Britain. He is well known for the discovery and excavation of Flag Fen, a Bronze Age site near Peterborough, as well as for his frequent appearances on Channel 4’s programme Time Team.
Maisie Taylor - prehistoric wood expert
Maisie is a specialist in the study of pre-historic woodworking, and an archaeologist. She has co-directed excavations at Etton Causewayed and Flag Fen, and has worked on the water-logged wood from many important British archaeological sites.
Mauro Dell'Orco - lead designer
Mauro trained as a furniture maker in a boutique workshop in Italy before qualifying and working as an architect. He has since returned to embrace his first passion in making furniture, applying the knowledge and experience gathered as an architect throughout the design and making process. In 2013 he co-founded Workshop East, an innovative incubator for early-career woodworkers and furniture makers.
Hamish Low - Fenland Black Oak CIO project lead

[@warrenluke627]

Congratulations to you for not cutting it into smaller lengths, i am always sanded when i see beautiful full logs cut up because it is easier to manage. This was a epic effort to get the table to look so simply elegant. Leaving behind all the work, time and planning that it took to accomplish this well deserving beautiful master peace.

[@frbrable]

Fascinating story, and what a beautiful table. Wish I could see it in person and run my hand along it!