The Kauri Story
A prehistoric marvel, perfectly preserved for 50,000 years.
Agathis australis, commonly known by its Māori name 'Kauri', is a coniferous tree found north of 38°S in the northern districts of New Zealand's North Island.
Journey Through Time
The Golden Age
Giant Kauri trees flourish in New Zealand's North Island, growing for up to 2,000 years each, reaching 50 meters into the sky.
Life Cycle of a Legend
From a prehistoric seedling to a 50,000-year-old masterpiece.
The Seedling
A tiny sprout begins its 2,000-year journey in the pristine, prehistoric forests of New Zealand.
The Mature Giant
Reaching heights of 50 metres, the Kauri becomes a living pillar of the ecosystem, its trunk swelling to 5 metres in diameter.
The Great Fall
A colossal seismic shift or tsunami fells the giant, plunging it into the oxygen-free depths of a peat swamp.
Nature's Time Capsule
Sealed in a chemically balanced environment, the wood is perfectly preserved, its grain gaining an ethereal, iridescent quality.
The Unearthing
Carefully extracted from the earth, the ancient timber sees the light for the first time in 500 centuries.
The Masterpiece
Transformed by master craftsmen into a bespoke piece of art, the Kauri begins its new life in a discerning home.
The Kauri Domain
Northland Peat Swamps
The primary source of Ancient Kauri. Here, massive logs have been preserved in a chemically balanced, oxygen-free environment for up to 50,000 years.
Waipoua Forest
Home to Tāne Mahuta ('Lord of the Forest'), the largest known living kauri tree. This ancient forest is a sanctuary for these living giants.
Auckland Region
The approximate southern limit of natural kauri distribution in New Zealand's North Island.
Coromandel Peninsula
Historically known for extensive kauri logging in the 19th century. Today, it features beautiful regenerating kauri forests.
A Geological Miracle
The kauri timber used to make our products is from prehistoric kauri trees which were buried and preserved between 3,000 and 50,000 years ago. At the end of the last Ice Age, an unexplained force of nature - likely a colossal seismic event or tsunami - felled entire forests of these giants.
Buried under peat swamps, the trees have survived the millennia underground, sealed in a chemically balanced, oxygen-free environment that has preserved the timber in near-perfect condition. This anaerobic environment prevented the natural decay process, resulting in wood that is as workable today as the day it fell, yet imbued with an ethereal, iridescent quality born of time.
Unfathomable Scale
"The trees each grew for nearly 2,000 years before they were buried. The trunk of a kauri tree can grow to a diameter of around 5 metres and an overall height of 40 - 50 metres."
To comprehend Ancient Kauri is to comprehend deep time. Before they were buried, these trees lived for millennia. The sheer size of the trunks allows us to craft seamless, single-slab dining and boardroom tables of extraordinary scale - a feat impossible with almost any other timber on Earth.
Scientific Authentication
Every piece of Signature Kauri wood comes with absolute provenance. The age of our timber is scientifically verified through radiocarbon dating conducted by the University of Waikato. This rigorous testing guarantees that you are acquiring a genuine artifact of natural history.
A Protected Legacy
In the past, the size and strength of kauri timber made it a popular wood for construction and ship building. In the late 1800s and early 1900s much of the living kauri was chopped down. Thankfully, kauri became the first indigenous tree species in New Zealand to be protected and since 1973 no standing trees have been cut down. Today there are around 18,000 acres of kauri forest remaining.
Our prehistoric timber is extracted from private land, usually ancient peat farms, ensuring that not a single living tree is harmed to create our masterpieces.
The Founder's Commitment
"My passion for Ancient Kauri began the moment I first witnessed its mesmerizing chatoyancy. I knew immediately that this was a material unlike anything else on Earth - a true privilege to work with."
"We are committed to honoring the 50,000-year legacy of these magnificent trees. By overseeing every step of the journey - from sustainable extraction in New Zealand to the final, meticulous polish in the UK - we ensure that each piece we create is a masterpiece worthy of its extraordinary history."
