What a surprise!

 

Camphor Laurel is a strange tree. In Australia, it is regarded as a highly invasive evergreen weed that has a tendency to exclude most other desirable native vegetation. It has no serious predators or diseases so it has a competitive advantage over native vegetation. Yet Camphor Laurel is a valuable resource. It is used for a range of products and furniture including tables, kitchen benches, railings, bookcases, chairs, stairs, carvings, sculptures and various items that can be turned on a lathe. And curiously enough, in Japan, Camphor is not a weed, but a highly prized exotic wood of a beautiful, rich honey-colour with a clean, fresh Camphor smell. On Friday, young Manni from Melbourne, who makes our pocket watch stands, showed up at our office with 3 Camphor Laurel pocket watch stands. It was a bit of a surprise: I was expecting a dozen or so dark and heavy burl stands. Dark burl and steel pocket watch cases work really well and burl stands are Manni's signature pieces. Instead, we got three light, almost Nordic looking stands! Would it work? It did. Immediately, it became obvious that the shiny stainless and honey Camphor compliment each other in a very 'harmonic' way. This harmony was the result of a careful section of wood as well as the cutting technique where most of the dark grain is only visible from the side. While I personally favour intense wood, it is not difficult to picture this stand shining like a centrepiece on a black table or black book case. Coincidentally, Manni wears a Grand Seiko GMT and he is proud of his collection of 1970s Seiko chronographs which he restores himself! Small world.

Camphor Laurel: $250 each

Fiddleback River Red Gum: $275 What is cool about these particular pieces is that they feature figuring in the wood known as ‘fiddleback’, giving a unique striping pattern that dances in the light.

Artisan - made in Australia.