The 50,000 Year Old Table

Throughout our long history, Heal’s has taken great care to source the finest quality timbers. Yet nothing could quite prepare us for the magnitude that was the Kauri.

Carved from prehistoric trees that are native to New Zealand, each piece has been perfectly preserved under peat swamps for 50,000 years before being lovingly carved into a one-off dining table.

While similar species can be found throughout South East Asia, what makes the Kauri so rare is its age and the extraordinary condition of the timber. To source these trees, engineers rely on the same process used for ore extraction before dating each piece at the University of Waikato via the Carbon 14 method.

Having fallen as a result of earthquakes and natural events roughly 50 millennia ago, the thick swamps of northern New Zealand have ensured each tree has remained untouched by decay or fossilisation.

This makes the material as workable as freshly cut wood, with Riva 1920’s artisan craftsmen carving the timber to reveal the amber glow of the grain while maintaining its natural knots.

Taking pride of place in our Tottenham Court Road showroom, the Kauri is a modern museum piece made for the home. Come see its golden grain today and be transported back in time.

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