June 2007 - This wood was given to me by a friend who purchased 2 pen blancs in Oregon. Oregon Myrtlewood is a broadleaf evergreen native to Southwestern Oregon.
Early explorers to this area were very impressed with this rare and beautiful tree. Oregon Myrtlewood looks very similar to the Myrtle The. Hence the old legend “Myrtle is found only here and in the Holy Land”. Myrtlewood in slow growing and very hard and finely textured which is excellent for durability and quality of finish.
Myrtlewood has an amazing grain color and grain patterns. Soil composition and minerals contribute to a wide range of coloration from blond, to black, with grays, honeys, browns, and occasional streaks of yellow, red, pink and green. When these colors mingle with grain patterns of swirls, fiddleback, spalting, tigerstripe and burl one can understand how myrtlewood is considered by many to be one of the world’s most beautiful hardwoods.
Oregon Myrtlewood became popular for making gift items back in the early 1900s. Local woodworkers in Reedsport, Oregon have developed a small cottage industry making handcrafted Myrtlewood products and gifts for visitors and residents of the area.