Discovering the Beautiful Things: The Phillipses' Journey in Southeast Asian Wood Art
Spotlight on Mango and Lychee
the seed. The two shifted gears and got involved. They studied the art of Southeast Asia and learned to appreciate the region's history, culture and capabilities. "We began as a company of discovery – first discovering ancient art, then discovering antiques and then discovering other beautiful things," Mark said. Before long, the company began to evolve from a company of discovery to a company of design.
That journey began in earnest in the late 1990s when Mark and Julie were in Northern Thailand seeking umbrellas made from the region's extraordinary silk. The Phillipses passed abandoned Teakwood farms where the trees had been felled 50 years before. Stumps prevented the Thai people from farming the land, and no one was willing to pay to remove them.
"We played around and dug up a few of these stumps," Mark said. "We cut them into squares to be a coffee table. We made dining tables, and we made them into console tables. It was all based on where we applied the cuts." They knew they were on to something, and they sought the roots of other trees to expand their collection. They now collect wood throughout Thailand and Indonesia.
Among their favorite species to work with is Mahogany (Toona sureni), from which they have developed their "Mahoni" collection. Mahoni is Indonesian for Mahogany. They have an entire collection of sculpture made from Mahogany roots.
"We actually sand its root structure while it's still in the ground," Mark said. "We sort of dig around and sand it and find the beautiful curves
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SPOTLIGHT ON: MANGO
- Species: Mangifera indica
- Origin: Asia (Indonesia, Thailand)
- Common Applications: Flooring, furnishings, turnings, and accent art.
- Characteristics/Appearance: The heartwood is golden brown along with yellow, pink or black streaks. It has a defined wide grained, consistent graining for carving, turning and working.
- Janka Hardness Scale: 1,050 lbf (see chart on page 19)
- Comments: Mango is also a well-known harvested tree and fruitwood. It is valuable for lumber and considered eco-friendly.
SPOTLIGHT ON: LYCHEE
- Species: Litchi
- Origin: Asia (Indonesia, Thailand)
- Common Applications: Jewelry, culinary tool handles, and artisan carving.
- Characteristics/Appearance: Workable with neutral grain.
- Janka Hardness Scale: 950 lbf (see chart on page 19)
- Comments: Lychee is an evergreen, tropical tree that bears fresh fruit with a sweet fragrance and flavor. The height of the tree ranges from 33ft. – 92 ft. The fruit is sold mainly in the marketplaces in the Asian region and in recent years, now in supermarkets worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
How did Phillips Collection start making furniture from tree stumps?+
In the late 1990s, Mark and Julie Phillips were in Northern Thailand seeking silk umbrellas when they passed abandoned Teakwood farms where trees had been felled 50 years earlier. They dug up some of the leftover stumps and cut them into squares to create coffee tables, dining tables, and console tables, based on where the cuts were applied.
What is the Mahoni collection by Phillips Collection?+
The Mahoni collection is made from Mahogany (Toona sureni) roots, with Mahoni being the Indonesian word for Mahogany. It includes an entire line of sculpture crafted from Mahogany roots.
How are Mahogany roots prepared for Phillips Collection sculptures?+
The roots are sanded while still in the ground. Workers dig around the root structure and sand it in place to reveal its beautiful curves.
Where does Phillips Collection source its wood?+
The company collects wood throughout Thailand and Indonesia. Their sourcing began with abandoned Teakwood stumps in Northern Thailand before expanding to roots of other tree species.
What are the characteristics of Mango wood used in furniture?+
Mango (Mangifera indica) heartwood is golden brown with yellow, pink or black streaks. It features a defined wide grain with consistent graining suitable for carving, turning and working, and has a Janka hardness of 1,050 lbf. It is used for flooring, furnishings, turnings, and accent art.
What is Lychee wood used for?+
Lychee (Litchi) wood is commonly used for jewelry, culinary tool handles, and artisan carving. It is workable with a neutral grain and has a Janka hardness of 950 lbf.