There’s something especially satisfying about finding beauty in a piece of wood that might otherwise have been overlooked.

This one-of-a-kind treasure chest is handcrafted from ash affected by the emerald ash borer, an invasive insect that has devastated ash trees across the country. As the insects move beneath the bark, they leave behind winding trails and patterns in the wood—creating incredible natural details that could never be duplicated by hand.

Rather than seeing those markings as a reason to discard the wood, I wanted to make them part of the design.

This larger treasure chest sits on a locally sourced walnut base, creating a subtle shadow line beneath the box and giving it an almost floating appearance. The contrast of the darker walnut against the lighter, character-filled ash adds another layer to the design without taking attention away from the unusual markings in the wood.

The hinged lid is finished with a rustic pull made from a piece of beach wood collected from the Oregon Coast. Inside, the bottom of the box and underside of the lid are lined with soft green felt, creating a warm, protected space for jewelry, keepsakes, letters and other small treasures.

The entire piece is hand-finished with three coats of all-natural tung oil from Tallahassee Tung Oil, bringing out the grain, color and beetle-created patterns while preserving the natural character of the wood.

Details

• Handcrafted from emerald ash borer-affected ash
• Naturally occurring beetle trails and markings
• Locally sourced walnut base with a distinctive shadow line
• Hinged wooden lid
• Oregon Coast beach wood lid pull
• Soft green felt lining on the interior top and bottom
• Finished with three coats of all-natural tung oil
• Approximately 9" long × 4.5" wide × 5" tall
• One of a kind

The markings in this ash came from something that has caused tremendous damage to trees across the country. Saving a piece of that wood and turning it into something meant to be kept for years felt like a small way to find something good in an otherwise difficult story.

From damaged wood to a place for treasured things.