Bogtrotter's work with natural Bog Oak found, in this case in the Garry Bog 1Km from Ballymoney in Country Antrim and 5Km from the McKinley (President) Homestead.

Bog Oak can be used in several ways:

1. Natural garden features
2. Ornamental Sculptures
3. Aquarium / Vivarium Accessories

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What is Bog Oak?

Bog Oak - A black hardwood almost like ebony and was dug out of the bogs of Ireland. Bog oak was used for the manufacture of small articles, intended mainly for the tourist or souvenir trade, from the 1820's for over a century, reaching a peak from about 1850 to 1860.

The range of products was amazingly diverse, extending from the simple to the elaborate, often carved, or embellished with gold, silver or gems. In general they comprised of three main categories:

• Personal or dress ornaments, for example, brooches (many similar in form to the Tara Brooch), bracelets, ear-rings, buttons and studs (some in the form of shamrocks or harps).
• Household ornaments such as models or representations of Irish antiquities, monuments, abbeys, round towers, High Crosses and sometimes caricatures of historical Irish personalities, Brian Boru, Henry Grattan etc.
• Functional articles like work-boxes, card cases, book stands, candlesticks, pen holders, snuff boxes and jewellery boxes.

Bog-oak can be embellished with other materials, silver gilt mountings and national emblems, the jewels being Irish diamonds (iron pyrites) and amethysts.