Thuya Burl wood Boxes The founders of Atlas London have a passion for all things Moroccan and have been marketing the highest quality Thuya Burl (Burr) boxes for over ten years. The products include, jewellery and cufflinks boxes, desk accessories, men’s gifts, dice and dominoes sets, cribbage boards, and more in a range of traditional as well as contemporary designs. Their range of products has developed over many years. Appealing to men and women of all ages, Atlas London Thuya Burl boxes make great gifts and decorative pieces. French polished to the highest standard Atlas London upholds a tradition in Thuya Burl products.
About Thuya Burl Thuya is a small scrub like conifer highly prized for its root. The unique quality lies in its knot configuration resembling a cross between Walnut burr and Birds Eye Maple, making the wood dense and difficult to work. Oil of Thuya is well known and highly regarded in the field of homeopathy and is used as a remedy for skin complaints. Thuya is a variety of fast growing conifer farmed under strict government licence in friendliness to the environment. Thuya Burl (sometimes referred to as Burr) is an exotic brown / tan coloured wood sourced commonly from Morocco. The botanical name for thuya burl (burr) is Tetraclinis articulate. Recognised by its distinctive black dots or “eyes”, it’s a beautiful and distinctive wood used to create a variety of products from jewellery boxes, cufflinks storage boxes, salt and pepper shakers, dice and dominoes sets, to desk accessories such as pen pots, memo pad holders, bowls, clocks and more. Thuya Burl is found in hot, dry regions and is indigenous to the western Mediterranean. Thuya Burls are found underground on the roots of Tetraclinis articulata trees. Tetraclinis articulata are one of the few conifers that are able to sprout new roots from the stumps of trees, a process known as coppice.
These trees due to repeatedly sprouting over the years grow very large burls that can weigh as much as 1,000 lbs. It’s hard to imagine how these burls were first discovered as most of these stumps of trees are located in the Atlas Mountains and the burls must first be unearthed before they can be carried down the mountains, originally with the help of donkeys. Moroccan’s consider Thuya Burl a national treasure in Morocco. Tetraclinis articulata is a tree located high in the Atlas Mountains. This unique wood they produce has been utilized by woodworkers and wood turners throughout history. Thuya Burl is even referred to in the Bible as “Thyine” wood and as result can often be a used for religious purposes. Naturally resinous and oily, Thuya Burl emits a cedar-like aroma, which is very noticeable during the cutting process.
Thuya Burl is a soft wood which means it lends itself well to cutting, carving, turning and polishing. Although skill is required in shaping this unique wood as the twisted grain can tear easily when cutting pieces on the lathe. However, frequently sharpened gouges generally produce good results.
Less common than most other wood, it’s commonly used by the Moroccan’s and the rest of the world to produce decorative, stylish products.
Thuya Burl wood inevitably darkens over time losing a certain degree of its orange tint. Frequent exposure to sunlight will also speed up this process.
