BLACK GOLD WITH BRONZE CASTING
Marcel Bader, the 24-year-old carpentry talent from Namibia, and his impressive bog oak table: Finished with OLI-NATURA Worktop-Oil, this unique piece now occupies a place of honor in our training workshop in Brannenburg.
Marcel Bader, a talented 24-year-old carpenter from Namibia, made an imposing table from bog oak during his apprenticeship at the age of 19. With its cast bronze and handcrafted details, the piece is not only aesthetically impressive but also functional, and has remarkable dimensions of 350 x 125 centimeters.
BLACK GOLD
Bog oak is a rarity that one seldom gets to see. Often referred to as “black gold,” the wood is impressive because of its dark to jet-black coloring, which it acquires after spending centuries in swamps or bogs. It is no wonder that the color nuances and dimensions of Marcel Bader’s handcrafted bog oak table captivate the viewer. The incorporation of cast bronze also leaves an indelible impression. Bader emphasizes: “The fascination of combining bronze heated to a thousand degrees with centuries-old bog oak would not let me go.”
WITH BOG OAK, YOU MEASURE TIME DIFFERENTLY
At the age of 19, Marcel Bader left his homeland of Namibia to begin an apprenticeship as a carpenter in Germany. Even as an apprentice, he took on the challenge of creating a table from ancient bog oak. This masterpiece required not only the highest level of craftsmanship and creativity, but also took him on an emotional journey. Bader reflected: “I made this table during my apprenticeship, and it was both a challenge and overwhelming at the same time. More than two years passed from the initial idea to completion. It cost me many nerves and countless hours, often working late into the night. But with bog oak, you measure time differently.”
Bog oak is not only exceptionally hard; it also has a distinctive grain and dark colouring. While looking for a suitable oil that would not only protect the wood but also enhance its depth of colour transparently, he came across Worktop-Oil from Oli Natura on Instagram. After a detailed consultation with the OLI team, he chose this colourless wood oil, which perfectly highlights the natural character of the bog oak.
This bog oak table perfectly embodies Bader's philosophy - the combination of naturalness and modernity, tradition and innovation. Each of his works tells a story. Here, it is the story of an ancient bog oak tree brought back to life and now playing a central role once again in the form of a table. The bog oak table now has a place of honour: it is displayed in the OLI-NATURA training workshop in Brannenburg, Upper Bavaria, near Rosenheim. In a conversation with Marcel Bader, the question arose: "Will this table go into series production?" Marcel simply laughed and replied: "No, this table is one of a kind. But it can certainly be purchased."
ABOUT MARCEL BADER
Marcel Bader, a 24-year-old carpenter from Namibia, moved to Germany at the age of 19 to begin an apprenticeship in carpentry in Schleswig-Holstein. He now works for a renowned carpentry company in Munich and is completing his master craftsman training. On his Instagram channel @mader_design_ he shares his passion for furniture making and has made a name for himself as a talent in the design and carpentry industry.