Reclaimed Teak Furniture
Not only is this high quality furniture a beautiful fit in any Southwestern home,
but it is environmentally friendly, and
easy to care for.

From wagon wheel benches to hand-carved cigar store Indians and cowboy statues, reclaimed teak furniture, (also known as “Rustic Teak” , ‘Rustic Root Furniture’ or ‘Log Furniture’), is a popular choice for homes in the desert and mountain regions of the southwest. I recently talked to Daniel Jolin, a subject matter expert and importer of teak furniture for his company, Uniquely Thai Furniture & Gift LLC. The reclaimed teak used to create this furniture actually comes from Thailand, where his family has been involved in the teak business for many years.

Reclaimed Teak is a high quality wood, and is often used as patio furniture and in boat building, because it has its own natural oil that makes the wood very resistant to rot, Ultraviolet Rays (UV), insects, marine bores and fungus. According to Daniel, when teak is left outside for a while, it will turn a natural silvery gray color. This shows when the natural teak oil forms a natural UV defensive barrier on the surface of the wood. This does not hurt the longevity of the wood. The regular use of a store bought Teak Oil or other wood preservative containing a UV shield, will insure the nature beauty of the teak grains and the teak will last for years without the silvery gray effect.

Daniel runs an eco-friendly business by importing reclaimed teak. This means that the majority of the pieces are made from teak which is has been used before, and does not take away from sustainable harvest. For example, his wagon wheel furniture uses authentic wheels from actual ox wagon wheels. Daniel explained to me that back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the teak industry in Thailand was devastated by over harvesting.  In the 1980s Thailand had an unusually heavy monsoon season, and due to the lack of trees, suffered major landslides and mudslides, killing thousands of people. The King of Thailand then banned all exporting of teak. Born in the US over 80 years ago, the King has played a major role in keeping a strong relationship between the US & Thailand, which dates back to WWII. After initiating huge reforestation campaigns, Thailand slowly opened its doors to logging to registered companies. Purchasing authentic reclaimed teak furniture is not only an environmentally friendly option, but one can also end up owning a piece of the past!

I talked to Daniel about the carvings and statues he carries – some are teak and some are carved from soft woods. These teak carvings come from large stumps from trees cut down many years ago, prior to the logging ban. In many cases they are  harvested to make room for new forests. The carvings are done in relief on teak slabs that come in a variety of sizes. Other carvings such as the Native American and cowboy statues are carved out of softwoods, proving again, just how non-wasteful the Thai culture is.  These carvings are made from softwoods such as the Jack Fruit tree (called the Mai Kaknown). Carving was becoming a dying art form due to the artists not being paid enough, so Daniel’s company is actively helping to bring the art form back to life by creating a market and paying the artists a decent fee.

To listen to an interview with Daniel Jolin, owner of Uniquely Thai, from an excerpt from our online radio show, Champagne Sundays, please double click on the Play Button below.

Uniquely Thai Furniture & Gift also imports high end carvings such as hand carved elephant and village scene tables, and hand carved furnishings for all rooms in the house. Carved furniture and art is considered a status symbol in Thailand, along with many unique gift and décor items. Many of these elegant carvings are usually reserved for royalty or nobility, but because of their connections, Uniquely Thai is able to import them and bring Thailand to you at affordable prices.