This is a very pretty acorn shaped box made out of Selasian wood (Cinnamomum parthenoxylon) with Black Palm (Borassus flabellifer) cap. Also known as Saffrol Laurel, this rare relative of cinnamon is native to SE Asia. It is a source of fragrant oil Safrole, a precursor of cosmetics and pesticides, but its true value (and curse) lies in its role as a precursor for a psychoactive drug known as Ecstasy. The roots of these trees are being illegally harvested for the distillation of its oil. The trunk wood is not often used for the extraction but also has a very strong and persistent smell of Root Beer. It smelled so ecstatically good when turned! This piece of wood was given to me by a Cambodian Buddhist monk, who carved intricate wooden statues out of the timber. I hand carried the small wood blank back here and intend to save this piece for my wood collection, but my other Selasian acorn was just sold, and I missed it....The cap is Black Palm (or Palmyra palm), National Tree of Cambodia. The interesting pattern adds a striking visual effect to this acorn. This palm species yields small nuts with soft, translucent flesh, similar to a young coconut, an importance source of sugar production there. I have eaten this palmnut fresh when I was a little girl. It had a sweet, refreshing taste. My dad worked at the culture exchange office in Phnom Penh for a few months. Our family followed him over there. I lived for 6 months in Cambodia, ate the palmyra palm nuts (among other things), learned a few Cambodian words, and had the greatest time of my life. I was so sad when I heard about the atrocities the khmer rouge had done to that peaceful and beautiful country. Wish I could return there some day, searching for memories and witnessing the country heals and grows, sturdy and strong like their palm symbol.
A nice box for your valuables. The screw-on cap ensures that your content is secured, good for jewelry, keepsake... Thought the ages, people has given out acorns as a symbol of prosperity and luck. This one is a unique gift.
Dimension (largest diameter x height): 2" x 2-5/8"
PLEASE READ:
-- All wood turned items were hand made and/or hand threaded on a lathe. Hardwood threaded inserts were used for woods that do not accept threading well.
-- The item was sanded to 1200 grid for a mirror finish and sealed with a food-safe varnish, if applicable. For hard, fine grained wood with a natural shine, only wax and oil was applied.
-- Each piece offered is a unique item. The design may be repeated but the dimension and wood combination, and or decorative accent will be different
-- Artist signature and catalog number will be inscribed on the item
-- I ship via USPS First Class mail (or Priority Mail if requested). Combined shipping is the highest shipping cost plus $2 for each additional item. Free shipping for 5 or more items purchased at the same time
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