This unique, hand-crafted table is constructed out of Ramon wood (also called Breadnut). The Breadnut tree is found widely in second-growth Central American tropical rain forests, where its presence in deep forests is considered evidence of pre-Colombian Mayan tree cultivation. The Mayans are thought to have preserved the seeds in underground chambers, probably as insurance against famine. Today, the sweet, succulent fruits are generally roasted and used to make a coffee-like drink.
Based on the amount of insect damage and spalting, the log that this wood came from likely laid on the forest floor quite some time before being harvested. Spalting is a by-product of the rotting process. When the temperature and humidity are right, spalting can cause many different and beautiful patterns in rotting wood. The unusual coloration is due to chemically induced reactions between the wood, fungi and insect deposits, which often result in black, pink, grey and multicolored streaks in the wood.
