Materials aren't just something we apply at the end of a design; they're fundamental to our whole approach and ethos. In particular we look for imaginative ways to champion the use of natural materials, which are carbon negative and
increase biodiversity.
British Grown Timber
We love working with timber, not just because of its versatility and durability - capable of being bent, carved, sawn and split - but because of its excellent environmental credentials. A source of oxygen, storer of carbon and creator of habitats; if we were designing a material today we think it'd be hard to imagine anything better than wood!
To ensure all of the timber we use is sustainably sourced, as a minimum it is FSC or PEFC approved. However, as much as possible, we advocate for the use of British-grown wood. Jacob Marks is one of the only furniture makers in the UK to hold a Grown in Britain Chain of Custody Certification, guaranteeing the provenance of the timber and that it has been sourced from mixed, healthy woodlands.
The Isles collection is our hallmark example of the beauty to be found in domestic timbers. See more here.
Coppiced Hazel
Coppicing is a special form of woodland management which involves cutting trees back to the ground every 7-10 years. This cycle is excellent for biodiversity, as the light which is periodically allowed to flood the forest floor supports many endangered species of flora and fauna. However, it's hazel's quick growth after cutting as it looks to harness the sun, which creates the beautiful long straight rods that characterise coppicing. We use this material, sourced in the English counties of Bedfordshire and Sussex, to produce our soon-to-be released Wattle collection.
Pine Resin
Pine resin is a material naturally secreted by trees in the Pinaceae family whenever their bark is damaged. It acts as a plaster, with its natural tackiness and waterproofing properties sealing the area, and its anti-micoribal and bacterial abilities healing it. Whilst this material has been used throughout history, first for hunting spears and then more latterly to waterproof ships, in the last two centuries it has suffered a massive decline due to the rise of petroleum based alternatives.
Marks' is passionate about reversing this trend and exploring pine resin's unique set of characteristics. Applying the material to many contemporary applications, including vessels, lighting, handles and tiles.
Read more of his research into pine resin here, and explore the Explorations in Pine Resin and Pina Collections here.
Christmas Trees
Every year around six million Christmas trees are discarded in the UK. Most are commonly made out of Norway spruce after their month out in the spotlight, almost all will either be chipped or burnt, in both instances releasing their embodied carbon. As a small antidote to this cycle of celebration and cremation, we use Christmas trees to make a range of characterful domestic items.
Explore the collection here.