By partnering with a small
furniture company we reclaim our rosewood and teak from sustainably
harvested and plantation grown lumber too small to be used
in fine furniture making. All our tiles have a living finish
that is easily maintained and enhances the wood’s natural
beauty. Each tile is cut and finished by hand, so every installation
is unique.
Whether our tiles are used in a contemporary or traditional
setting, Fortis Arbor mosaics bring a depth and aesthetic
harmony to the environment that is unrivaled by other materials.
All the finishing and netting of Fortis Arbor tiles is done
in our
Chicago studio, USA.
Our wood tiles are handcrafted from solid bamboo, teak and
rosewood. These three woods were chosen not only for their
pleasing color range, but also for their strength and durability.
Bamboo:
Actually considered a grass plant and not wood, bamboo has
been used by the Japanese for thousands of years for everything
from simple tools to home building. It is only recently that
the technology to turn bamboo into a veneer board of incredible
stability and hardness has been realized.
Rosewood:
Rosewood is a common western name for what is called Fa-lee
by the Chinese and Pradu or Praduak in Thailand. It gets its
western name from its incredibly vibrant red color, which
is similar but richer in color than cherry and mahogany. Our
rosewood ranges in tone from deep red to chocolate brown.
Rosewood is used extensively for outdoor carved sculpture
because of its density, rot resistance and natural beauty.
Teak:
Ancient civilizations in the East prized teakwood as one of
their most valuable resources. Teak's ability to withstand
rust when combined with metal, as well as its resistance to
rot, have made it the superior wood for shipbuilding. It has
been used in some capacity for this purpose since before the
middle ages. Often teak flooring from old ships was recycled
into park benches for European cities. Today, there are some
teak benches in English towns that are centuries old.
......................................................
