WOOD SAMPLE: American Reclaimed Chestnut

The American Chestnut tree was the predominant hardwood species on the entire East coast and into the mid-west forests of the United States. In the early 20th century, a devastating blight was introduced from overseas that caused the almost complete extinction of the chestnut species. Today, only a few isolated stands of American chestnut exist in the mid-west. Efforts to re-establish the chestnut tree are the work of the American Chestnut Foundation.

The Chestnut we use is reclaimed from industrial and residential buildings in the Midwest and contains many distinct wormholes, varied color patterns, and other signs of its previous use.