Huge Tree Milled in the Fens

[agg221]

Thanks for the update - that's an enormous number of stickers!

 

Alec

[Rhob the Log]

That is absolutely stunning. Great to see a project gather momentum and hope the finished piece lives up to the quality workmanship so far!

[Paul HC]

Hi Mark,

I just found this thread - what a couple of days they were! I had a lot of fun planking that, fairly tedious walking that mill up a 44' butt though!

Those boards were well worth all that hard work. I'm not sure that i will get the chance to plank anything like this ever again.

I can't wait until June when those boards come out of the kiln.

[Mark JD Adamson Limited]

It's been a very long time......but I was privileged to be able to assist in the transportation and installation of the finished table in Ely Cathedral yesterday. 

 

In celebration of the Queens Jubilee the table will be unveiled by the Princess Royal on Tuesday 17th May and will be available for public viewing from the 18th May.

 

The generosity of companies and individuals, working in a multitude of crafts, professions and disciplines both large and small has been overwhelming.

 

Search "Fenland Black Oak Project" on your browser or, alternatively click on this Ely Standard link to view photos of the installation.

 

https://www.elystandard.co.uk/lifestyle/heritage/table-made-from-fossilised-tree-arrives-in-ely-8951412

 

Photograph Credits: Terry Harris

 

Thanks.

Edited May 10, 2022 by Mark JD Adamson Limited

[difflock]

Tell me thats not a metal frame it sits on?

Like my eyes tell me it is?

Marcus.

P.S.

I wholly applaud this use of this wonderful tree btw.

[Mark JD Adamson Limited]

The understructure is bronze.

 

Huge discussions were held by the designers/creatives about the understructure during the project. 

 

Some (but not all) of the issues that had to be considered were strength, portability (the whole table is on retractable wheels and can be moved by two people), also very importantly the understructure should not take attention away from the top - the planks/top must be the stars!

 

Bronze was chosen as in the historical context it is contemporaneous with the age of the timber.

[difflock]

I still imagine a light coloured native wood(like Ash?) suitably laminated and engineered would have been a more appropiate choice, and guessing as stiff and yet as light.

Or even carbon fibre? 

The "contemporaneous with the age of the timber" comment, to me, does not sit well with the very clearly  modern design of the support structure, for this an elegant design in stainless steel or alumininium would have looked better. 

Probably the result of design by committee.

Marcus

[Mr. Ed]

I have to disagree with you difflock - without having seen the structure in any detail I’d have said that bronze is a lovely material to do it with,  for its strength, integrity (with regard to corrosion), aesthetic potential with regard to patina, and its historical heft, given that the tree fell during the Bronze Age.