Porto, Portugal - Rua dos Caldeireiros

76 x 18 x 1 cm

This building in Downtown Porto is unique because of huge tap protruding out above the front doors. You can guess that it is a plumbing and fixtures shop - and looks like it has been for a long time. The sign is actually what attracted me to the shop - it's simple but attention getting. I recreated the sign on this piece out of metal and added a copper tap to give a nice three dimensional effect. The tap is just friction fit into the wood and is easy to remove for adjustment or shipping.

The wood board comes all the way from the Maldives - and is very special. We found a half buried in sand old fishing boat on a deserted islet and spent the day excavating and removing the floor and hull planking. This particular piece was a floor plank where the boat had broken in half. It's quite a thin and tall piece, but very solid and light.

Aside from the tap getting the initial attention - it's a beautiful piece with the 5 levels, each characteristically different. This piece could almost be hung with the back facing out into the room because the wood itself is so amazing. Nature worked it's magic with water, sun, sand, and barnacles all leaving their signature. It's difficult to articulate but when you hold this wood in your hands it's something special.

Wood found:  Maldives