Holm oak wood
Quercus ilex – the only evergreen oak sort native to the Mediterranean region is used in sanisio production since 2010.
Main Mediterranean holm oak wood characteristics are its large specific weight and strength.
A unique gem among wooden materials, especially when it comes to designing and creating jewellery.
Also known as Mediterranean or black oak, holm oak wood in Istria is called brshuda. Here has the reputation of perfect firewood. It holds the cinder for a long time.
Another wooden material that can live up to 1000 years. We discovered it in 2010 and included immediately in our production.
It represents a sort of rediscovery of the holm oak wood in designing useful and decorative objects. And not only because of its strength.
The colors and patterns are just as fascinating – from light cream to completely black areas. Richness of colors is one of many Mediterranean holm oak wood characteristics.
The Croatian name for this tree – crnika – comes from its color. Or, more precisely, from the black color that can be found in the very heart. But you can’t find it in young trees.
Darker colors begin to come out after few decades. And those parts are the hardest ones but also the most decorative ones.
In order to select the most decorative parts of the black oak the trunk itself should be at least 50 cm large in diameter, which is really rare.
That means trees more than 300 years old!
The Croatian name for this tree – crnika – comes from its color. Or, more precisely, from the black color that can be found in the very heart. But you can’t find it in young trees.
Darker colors begin to come out after few decades. And those parts are the hardest ones but also the most decorative ones.
In order to select the most decorative parts of the black oak the trunk itself should be at least 50 cm large in diameter, which is really rare.
That means trees more than 300 years old!
Main Mediterranean holm oak wood characteristics are its large specific weight and the associated highly dense structure and hardness.
The main disadvantage is the distinct tendency to crack during the drying process. So it is advisable to start with the hydro-thermal process immediately after the cut-off.
Durable and dense wood, not easy to work with. Interesting fact is that it sinks in water even when it is completely dry.
Holm oak wood offers infinite possibilities of designing large variety of items. In our opinion, the most elegant wood for jewellery.
