Norm Sartorius - Monticello Bracelets

Monticello Bracelet2 - Tulip Poplar - 4.25 x 4.25 x 2.5 inches (2) One with 4 1/2 in. diameter hole & a second with a 4 5/8 diameter hole. Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States of America may well have planted the tree from which I carved this letter opener. In his Weather Memorandum Book on April 16, 1807, Jefferson noted planting "1. Laurodendron in margin of SW [shrub circle] from the nursery." This tree grew to be enormous and unfortunately hollow. 84” in diameter at it’s base this was described as one of ‘Mr. Jefferson’s pet trees”. It was designated both one of Virginia’s Remarkable Trees and a Millennium Landmark Tree”. Eventually this magnificent tree was removed for safety concerns and I was offered some of the wood for carving. Near the rotten center of this huge hollow tree the wood was quite stained by stagnant rain water contained in the hollow. This produced the rich gray colors and varied shades in these bracelets. Thomas Jefferson loved trees and hated to see them cut down but given the reality of the damage to this tree it is a good second best for parts of the tree to live on in the works made from it’s wood - $650 each - One has been SOLD. Photography by Jim Osborn.

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