OLIVE WOOD BENCH

By Darren Myburgh

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Designer

Darren Myburgh

Woodcrafter

Darren Myburgh

Tree

Camphor Laurel

Common name

Camphor Tree

Wild Olive Bench

This flawless Camphor slab was beautifully curated to showcase the wooden surface, bringing out the natural tones and grain of the wood. With its classic clean lines it can be placed in an entrance hall or outside patio, bringing with it a dynamic presence. The legs are hand-crafted to form ergonomically shaped windows complementing the flowing shape.

DESIGNER

This young and inspiring designer studied industrial design at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. After completing his studies, Darren spent a year as an FGASA (Field Guide Association of South Africa) field guide – and this is where his love and appreciation for nature developed into a yearning to work with wood. He was destined to meet Gys Potgieter, who was soon fascinated and impressed with Darren’s passion for craftsmanship and design talent. This remarkable partnership in Kuni has realised Darren’s dream of designing unique, one-of-a-kind and high-end furniture.

WILD OLIVE BENCH

THE TREE

The camphor is an evergreen tree with a dense, rounded canopy, a massive trunk and camphor-scented leaves.

It is a pleasant wood to work with and has a lovely aroma, but the sawdust can be toxic!

WHERE ARE THEY FOUND?

The tree is declared an invader in South Africa and originates from east Asia. It was introduced into South Africa in the 1700s as an ornamental tree. In 1942, five trees planted in the 1700s were proclaimed national monuments.

WOOD PROPERTIES

The medium-density wood is mostly used for light construction such as furniture, cabinets, decorative pieces and chests. Due to the large size of the tree trunk, it is possible to work with big boards for larger items such as benches and servers.