Victorian c.1880, lathe turned and intricately carved.

Bog oak – far from being an obscure subgenus of Quercus Robur – refers to oak that has been entombed in peat bogs for hundreds, indeed thousands of years. Unique circumstances result in no decay taking place; the timber is starved of oxygen and the minerals within the bog react with the natural tannins in the wood which cause the deep brown/black colour to develop. A thriving industry in Ireland developed with objects such as jewellery, trinkets, candlestick and bookends being crafted, usually incorporating ancient Celtic motifs,  from this unique indigenous material. Cornelius Goggin was undoubtedly the most famous of all craftsmen using the material and included Queen Victoria amongst his patrons.