What is a wooden spill vase used for?

These small vessels held thin wooden spills used to transfer fire from the hearth to candles or pipes. Over time, they transitioned from practical fireplace accessories into decorative mantel ornaments collected for their timber patination.

How do I care for antique treen?

Keep wooden vases away from direct heat sources and sudden humidity changes to prevent the timber from splitting. Apply a light microcrystalline wax occasionally to nourish the surface and maintain the natural lustre of the grain.

What woods were used for these vases?

Turners selected dense native and exotic hardwoods such as mahogany, oak, walnut, yew wood, fruitwood, and lignum vitae. Each timber offered distinct colour and grain characteristics that reacted differently to lathe turning and polishing.

How can I tell the age of a turned vase?

Dating relies on tool marks, timber choice, and the overall profile relative to known eighteenth-century decorative forms. Wear patterns around the base and the depth of the surface patination also offer clues to the period of manufacture.