A scarce carved Irish bog oak miniature gothic architectural ruin, circa. 1860.
Irish bog oak is an ancient, partially mineralised timber preserved in peat bogs for 3,000-8,000 years, prized for its deep, ink-black colour. Quite aside from its uses in mourning jewellery, Ireland's bog oak became the ideal transfer for the nationalistic motifs of a country on the precipice of independence. Imagery was favoured which promoted the national identity of Ireland as an established state with its own identifiable customs and symbols. The most common motifs include round towers, shamrocks, abbeys, Irish wolfhounds and harps, all which help perpetuate a national identity for Ireland’s fledgling tourist industry. There was a marked drop in the craft towards to end of the 19th century. Examples of these crafts exist now as rare and valuable examples of Ireland’s early tourist industry and belong to that delicate juncture between the dying crafts of the late 18th and 19th century and the industrialisation of a nation.
This example is meticulously carved and boasts exceptional attention to detail. It works as a work of art in its own right but incidentally is the perfect size with which to enclose a tea light, the windows emitting an atmospheric glow.
Dimensions
Height: 11cm
Width: 13.5cm
Depth: 7cm
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