Rìgh nan Gleann
There is something deeply rewarding about working with Spalted Beech. It’s a timber that carries the untamed character of our landscape—wild, marbled, and completely unique. My latest project, the Rìgh nan Gleann (King of the Glens) Hall Table, was designed to celebrate that heritage while adding a powerful, artistic touch through a hand-carved stag silhouette.
Sourcing the Material
Every piece of furniture starts with the wood. For this hall table, I selected a spectacular slab of beech that had undergone the natural process of "spalting." In my workshop, I focus on "slow furniture"—taking the time to let those dramatic black "zone lines" dictate the flow of the piece before the first cut is made. The result is a tabletop that looks like a pen-and-ink map of the Scottish glens.
The Art of the Carved Stag
The centerpiece of this table is the hand-carved stag. The stag is the Rìgh nan Gleann, the ancient emblem of the Highlands, representing majesty and the spirit of the wild.
To create this, I used a relief-carving technique:
Selection: Positioning the stag so the natural spalting lines of the beech flow around the antlers like mist in a forest.
Precision Carving: Hand-carving the powerful silhouette to create depth and shadow within the grain.
The Finish: Smoothing the carving to ensure it integrates seamlessly with the live-edge top, feeling organic and tactile to the touch.
Why a Hall Table?
The hallway is the "handshake" of your home. It’s the first thing guests see and the last thing you touch when you leave. I designed this piece with bold, modern metal legs to contrast the ancient feel of the beech—creating a slim, contemporary profile that brings the energy of the forest into any entryway. It's the perfect stage for a piece of my Cobhar na Mara fused glass to sit upon.
Bringing a Piece of Scotland Home
Whether you live here on the Isle of Arran or you want to bring a piece of the Highlands to a city apartment, bespoke woodwork connects you to the natural world. This table isn't just a surface; it’s a conversation starter and a tribute to the King of our Glens.
