Old is the new new. It can be dirty, heavy, and difficult, but there’s a tactile romance to old wood; a peerless patina that inspires in a way that not much else can. Mindful of both splinters and story, we at Artemano wholeheartedly court old pieces of wood. Our latest collection, made from old construction wood, is sourced in a land where mythology and ancient law still course through the present.
Regal Roots
Indonesia is one of the few places in the world where the past continues to dictate the now. On the Indonesian island of Java, there is a deeply rooted belief in cycles that persist and determine the lifespan of a home. Kings of ancient Buddhist dynasties uprooted palaces, and even whole capital cities every three generations, in an effort to avert catastrophe. Today, the belief is applied to the familial home to ensure good luck and prosperity for future generations.
Three generations – the very word generation connotes a sort of magic realism. One can’t help but think of all the stories woven into the grain of this multigenerational piece of wood – the lives on it, around it, within it. At Artemano, we are as much collectors as we are creators. We collect wood with stories, and we create with it.
The Grain Gospel: Teak Wood / Tectona Grandis / KayuJati
Traditional Javanese homes are often built with old growth teak wood, ancient before it even begins its life as a home. One of the strongest, most resilient woods in existence, it survives moisture, insects, termites, and time. Three generations later, when it is time, homes are thoughtfully dismantled, to salvage as much as possible. Every part of the home has value and is cherished by the family as well as by those doing the dismantling, all with the hope and intention of repurposing it. Flooring has the character of a million steps, the main columns are strong and the beams are solid - few items today are made with the same propensity for longevity.
Thinking in terms of onegeneration, let alone three, can feel like fodder for fairy tales. But within these pieces laden with lore, there is a narrative that we curate– the distinctive wood, the ancient grain, the unique indentations, crevices, and knots; stories that are inherent to every design.
The Atelier
Artemano works closely with modern-day prospectors of old teak homes in Java. These agents of the ancient curate pieces by seeking out homes at the end of their life cycle, meticulously dismantling each home and breathing new life into each piece. The strictly regulated process, is done respectfully, honouring the structure, the residents, and the local customs. From getting blessed by the local shaman to free the home of negative energy, to consulting with the village chief to gain support and permission –when all is agreed and signed, the wood that was once a home journeys over often very remote terrain to the next stop in this process, arriving at a veritable vault of old wood. It is here where it is determined in what form the life of this wood will continue.
In this library of sorts for all of the salvaged parts sourced from these homes, the wood waits to meet the craftsmen. Reminiscent of the Dewey Decimal catalogue system, each piece of wood is tagged with a silver label indicating provenance – information about the origin of the wood, the previous owner, the size, and description of the piece. Everything is accounted for, properly accredited, and traced within the warehouse. This wood repository sorts everything by size and feature, from flooring to window frames, from pillars to beams.
Photo Credit: Julie C. Trubkin
And so, this old wood begins anew. Designs for our collection are determined by time, and by the craftsmen, the honorary protectors and purveyors of the ancient, that create each piece by hand. No two pieces are exactly alike. The wood, its story, and the hands that make it,dictate the shape, the design, the new life, and ultimately the entire collection.
To become a footnote in the life of a teak tree, is to truly become a guardian of the grain. We strive to reclaim, repurpose, and reuse at every turn, as our gesture of gratitude; a way to celebrate the environment that has given us so much. The practice of using old construction wood from teak homes is as much about environmental sustainability as it is about the layered patina that can only be achieved from a long life. This old wood has lived several lives, and continues to be reincarnated. Taken apart, to be a part –the cycle of the ancient continues.
Photo Credit: Julie C. Trubkin
