Gravetos Preta

Description

Gravetos is Portuguese for kindling, the dried wood you use for starting fires. The pod used to make this cast was collected in Portugal in the mountains near Coimbra, I collected it there over 20 years ago. The smell of Eucalyptus is said to ward off mosquitoes but I didn’t find it worked that well. The seed pods are such dense, gnarly things, I’ve always been fond of them. I used to light my wood burner with them and the thin tinder-dry branches they were great for a winters night travelling through the mountains.

Sadly the eucalyptus has a sinister side and the tree, rich in oil and tinder-dry peeling bark is the perfect environment for wildfires. These fires have ravaged the native forests and conveniently made way for a huge logging industry. The native flora and fauna have declined rapidly, which is why I have a love-hate relationship with these beautiful trees.

Experimenting with unusual materials like concrete is my favourite thing to do. Working with natural forms and marrying it with metal, bringing stories and sentiment, history and politics all into play is what drives me to make work.
Postage is included if you live in the UK unless you live in Bristol, UK in which case I may be able to deliver. If you live outside the UK please message me for details.

Thank you.