Every Tree Tells a Story: Custom Brass Plaques for Fallen Tree Table Co

Walk through any park or forest and it’s easy to see trees as just part of the background scenery: quiet, still, and unassuming. But look a little closer, and you’ll start to notice something remarkable: every tree carries a story, written slowly over time.

A tree’s trunk is like a living timeline. Each ring marks a year of growth, shaped by the conditions it has endured. A thick ring whispers of gentle weather and sunlight, while a thin one hints at struggle. But the story isn’t just inside. It’s visible in the bark, branches, and scars. A split limb might tell of a storm that once tore through the landscape. Twisted growth can reveal years spent reaching for light in a crowded forest. Knots and hollows often show where life intersected: perhaps a bird nested there, or an animal found shelter. Without saying a word, a tree records history in a way few living things can.

It is an honour to work with Fallen Tree Table Company in Richmond Upon Thames (England), who sustainably source fallen trees and use traditional techniques to transform them into one-of-a-kind coffee and dining tables. I recently made another set of 4 antiqued brass plaques for them, with each plaque recording who the table is for and where the wood was sourced. I think this is a wonderful idea and I'm very happy to play a small part in recording this history. There is a lot of detail in the leaves in the engraved logo, which makes these brass signs fun (but challenging!) to work on.

If you'd like to find out more about Fallen Tree Table Company's story or the furniture they make, there is more information on their website here.

If you'd like to find out more about the metal plaques, signs and name plates I make, there are some more examples of my work in my portfolio here. 

In a fast-moving world, trees remind us of a different pace. They grow slowly, adapt, and endure. Their stories aren’t loud, but they are constant - etched in wood, shaped by time. Next time you pass a tree, take a moment to look again.