Story of Ent: Guardian of Trees
“You must understand, young Hobbit, it takes a long time to say anything in Old Entish. And we never say anything unless it is worth taking a long time to say.”
J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings speaks of Ents, ancient trees that walked, talked and protected the forest. These humanoid creatures take the shape of the trees they look after. Their predisposition to speak slow on matters worth speaking about is thought-provoking. Be it in fashion, lifestyle, design or career, we see a global effort to return to an unhurried life.
Part of this movement is a revival of craft. The time dedicated by the craftsman into his work offers a profound insight into his mind. Carl Honore's In Praise of Slowness reminds us that we savour our simplest experiences more when we slow down. In the realm of craft, it refers to the spirit that handmade things bring to both maker and owner. Honore's interview with Kinfolk captures this best.
Fascinated by these Shepherds of Trees, our 'slow movement' designers and craftsmen created the Ent Accent Table. It masquerades as a splintered tree trunk. As you look closer, they are made of beautifully textured twigs.
A Closer Look at the Raw Material
Artisans in our workshop have developed a special natural material known as smooth turnsole. They use it to hand-laminate the wooden Ent. The material is laid out vertically on the sides and spirally on the tabletop. Smooth turnsole patterns of the Ent cannot be duplicated in any other finish or material application.
The Ent table adds a natural vibe to any room. The circular pattern on the top is lovely to behold and gives warmth to any space.
Doing Our Part for the Forest
“Side? I am on nobody's side, because nobody is on my side, little orc. Nobody is on the side of trees.”
The Ent Table represents a tree stump and is named after the guardians of the forest. To us, it stands for the fact that every item we own is generously given by nature. The design is an example and reminder of our responsibility to choose things that are made to last, and learn what it took to make our things so we can support methods that are mindful of the environment. This way, we encourage more producers to minimise ecological footprint as part of business-as-usual.
Ultimately it is the everyday choices we make, and not our loudest words, that will help our environment. Treebeard aptly states as Saruman's orcs pillaged the Forests of Fangorn, "I must cool myself and think; for it is easier to shout stop! than to do it.”
