A small owl sits on a knotty wooden base, gazing ahead as if keeping watch. It was carved by hand in Indonesia, with its face worked in fine detail. Its base is raw, untreated parasite wood. The piece is about 10 cm tall and takes up roughly 11 × 12 cm, about the size of a coffee mug. You receive one carved owl.
What is parasite wood?
Parasite wood comes from a plant that grows on another tree and lives off it. It grows twisted and irregular, so the pieces are knotty, rough to the touch and marked with darker patches. The carver smoothed the owl but left the base just as the wood grew, and that contrast between bird and base gives the piece its character.
Every owl is a little different
The wood decides the shape of each base and the bird is carved by hand, so no two pieces match. Yours may differ slightly from the photos in shape, grain and colour. Even the owl's posture and its size against the base can vary a little.
Athena's bird on your bedside table
In ancient Greece the owl was the bird of the goddess Athena, which is why it came to stand for wisdom. This little owl suits a bookshelf, a desk or a bedside table. It sits well beside wooden furniture and house plants, and in a plain, light room the natural colour of the wood stands out.
As a gift, choose it for someone who loves birds or handmade things. Dust it with a soft brush or a dry cloth, and keep water away from the raw wood. Avoid placing it above a radiator or in strong sun, as heat can dry the wood out.