Here in New Canaan the venerable white oak of the Bristow Bird Sanctuary stood as a stalwart guardian of the landscape, its presence a silent testament to the passage of centuries. With a trunk measuring 192 inches in circumference and a canopy extending 102 feet, this arboreal giant was a natural monument, intertwined with the town’s history. Last summer, however, a storm felled this ancient oak, ending its reign but not its legacy.
In the hands of the Nutmeg Woodturners League, the wood of this 300-year-old titan was been given new life. This is a continuation of the oak’s legacy, now etched into objects of enduring utility and beauty.
The white oak, revered not only for its strength but for its unique properties, has long been the wood of choice for creating barrels and bowls, particularly those destined for the kitchen.
The dense, tight grain of the white oak is known for its waterproof qualities. The wood contains a unique structure called tyloses, which are outgrowths that effectively block the wood’s vessels, making it highly resistant to water and other liquids. This property makes white oak particularly suitable for cooperage, where it is commonly used to craft barrels for aging wine and spirits. The wood’s impermeability ensures that the contents are well-preserved without leakage, which is why it has been valued for centuries in the making of barrels, as well as in applications where water resistance is essential, such as in boat building and outdoor furniture.
According to John Kriz, the white oak is also the state tree of Connecticut and the reason why there were so many ship builders originally in Connecticut is because they had lots of old growth white oak with which to work, needed if you’re laying a keel or making large ships. And so they used Connecticut white oak.
The Woodturners League, one of the oldest woodturning organizations in the United States, took on the task of transforming the Mighty Bristow Oak under the leadership of David Heim, its president, and in collaboration with Chris Schipper of the New Canaan Conservation Commission. Their efforts have produced a collection of items that are not merely functional but carry the gravitas of history. Each bowl, bench, and charcuterie board crafted from this oak is imbued with the narrative of a tree that stood sentinel for generations.
Among the pieces being auctioned are artisanal bowls, whose very form speaks to the oak’s historical role in culinary traditions. The impermeability of white oak makes it the wood of choice for cooperage, where it has been used for centuries to craft barrels that age wine and spirits to perfection, and now, through the artistry of the Nutmeg Woodturners, it finds new purpose in the kitchen.
The auction, running through September 9, features not only these bowls but also benches, birdhouses, and life-sized bird carvings, each a testament to the oak’s enduring legacy. Notably, a life-sized carved Pileated Woodpecker by sculptor George Arthur is among the items, a piece that echoes the forest’s call and starts bidding at $250. Additionally, a Millennium Y2K Blockbuster Bordeaux Wine Package, its significance amplified by the oak’s historical connection to wine-making, begins at $1,000.
This auction serves as a blend of history, craft, and conservation. The proceeds will support the Bristow Bird Sanctuary’s ongoing efforts to preserve its natural beauty and ecological significance. For those who value the continuity of tradition and the tangible connection to the past that such objects provide, the opportunity to participate in this auction is not to be missed. Bids can be placed online at https://givebutter.com/c/BristowParkCentennial/auction, where each item carries with it the weight of history and the promise of endurance, much like the white oak from which it was hewn.
