SasºnWear
Jewelry by Catskill Painted Grain
Sharing a grain of beauty with the world
From a Catskill Barn
"Redwood" of the Catskills Photo courtesy of Forest History Society
From a Catskill Barn
Black Cherry
Prunus Serotina
The Black Cherry tree is native to Eastern North America and has a number of uses. It's bark has been used as a cough syrup for decades and the cherries can be used in jams or as a flavoring for liqueurs. The cured timber is known for its deep red color and high density, making it the one of the most desireable for building furniture and cabinetry. Although this tree now grows from Mexico to Canada, the use of Black Cherry in old barns is particular to this region because it has only grown large enough for use as proper plank lumber in the Northeast woods.
Black Walnut
Juglans nigra
Black Walnut is valued for its darkly colored heartwood and high durability. This tree is native to the Eastern United States and has been used for furniture and flooring for centuries. The straight grain is distinctive and appealing. Countless craftsmen regard black walnut as the finest locally sourced material available for their most prized woodworking projects.
American Chestnut
Castanea Dentata
The mighty Chestnut was once one of the largest and most prolific trees in the Eastern North American forest. Now extinct as a species, it's beauty only exists as recycled lumber. The Great Chestnut blight of the early 1900's wiped out the tree in nearly all of its historical range. At one time this tree represented up to 25% of Appalachian Mountain forests. The Chestnut is a prolific nut bearer and the timber is hard and straight grained for easy milling. The wood is high in tannins which helps it to resist decay making it a suitable wood for furniture and floors. All of our Chestnut comes from old Catskill barns that have fallen or are being replaced. Now the wood will be reclaimed and reused for art.
origins of our art
from tree to barn to jewelry... the cycle continues with you
Wire
Copper & Sterling silver
Many fallen barns are still full of old items, such as Copper electrical wiring. The use of metal wire in the art is representative of that recycling process.
All our hooks are handmade with sterling silver wire. The high quality material will not irritate the skin even after long hours of wear. The unique combination of light-weight wood and metal creates a nice balance of functional design and style. Wearable art is an attractive way to spread the idea of recycling and reusing as a way of life. When a miniature piece of Catskill Painted Grain barn wood is transformed into jewelry, the wearer can hang it on themselves and feel empowered by its depth and connectivity to history.