Elm Burl. Ref: IWT.008

Description

Elm Burl Piece

The Wych elm is the only native elm in Ireland and can grow up to 40m high with a broad spreading crown. In Celtic mythology elm trees were associated with the Underworld and indeed many coffins were made from elm. It is highly prized by woodturners because of its incredible grain, particularly in the burls. A burl is like a growth on the trunk of the tree and while all trees are prone to it, it is particularly common on the elm. Unfortunately most of the elm trees fell foul of Dutch elm disease and I was extremely lucky to get this one from a farm in Tremone Bay, Inishowen, which probably survived due to its extremely remote location.