The wood is Buxus sempervirens.
It is a slow growth tree and this gives the wood a remarkable hardness (possibly the hardest in Europe) and heaviness. It is free of grain produced by growth rings, making it ideal for cabinet-making, the crafting of clarinets, engraving, marquetry, woodturning, tool handles, mallet heads and as a substitute for ivory. Dark spots are natural shades for this kind of wood.
It is playful and fanciful because of the peculiar shape.
It is 20 cm length, from 3.5 to 4.5 large, the weight is about 250 gr. To reach this size the tree has grown for about 80 years, this gives the object an inestimable value.
Tu non sai:
ci sono betulle che di notte
levano le loro radici,
e tu non crederesti mai
che di notte gli alberi camminano
o diventano sogni.
Pensa che in un albero c'è un
violino d'amore.
(Alda Merini)
Buxus Sempervirens