Pair of Hand-Carved Wooden Ducks on Parasite Wood

Description

Two small ducks, carved from pale wood and perched at either end of a gnarled parasite wood base, as if resting on a riverbank log. The pale finish lets the tool marks show through – fine lines etched into each wing to suggest feathers, and a soft, slightly chalky texture across the bodies that catches the light differently depending on the angle.

What makes this piece stand out is the base itself: a piece of genuine parasite wood, a dense burl-like growth that forms on host trees and keeps its twisted, hollowed shape long after the surrounding wood has broken down. Its knots, cavities, and rough bark-like ridges are entirely natural, meaning the artisan had to carve and fit each duck to the particular contours of this one piece of wood – no template, no repeat shape.

Because both the birds and the wood beneath them are shaped by hand rather than a mould, you’ll notice small asymmetries between the two ducks and unevenness in the surface finish; these are marks of the carving process, not flaws to overlook. Set on a shelf, windowsill, or desk, it reads less like a decoration and more like a small scene someone carved because they liked ducks and driftwood – a thoughtful pick for a birder, a lake-house owner, or anyone who prefers a housewarming gift with an actual story behind it over another candle.

*he Artisan’s Mark

The gnarled base of each piece is genuine parasite wood – a dense, naturally-formed growth that develops on host trees and survives long after the tree itself decays. No two bases share the same shape, so the artisan carves and mounts each figure to fit its own unique piece of wood. This means every item is one-of-a-kind before a single cut is even made.

A note on our photos

We only use AI to clean up the background of our photos — never to alter the product itself. What you see is the actual piece, imperfections and all. That’s the nature of handmade.