Why Wood is Our Primary Material
HISTORICAL + INTIMATE
Woodworking has been a defining human activity through all ages of development. “It is the one material,” Roland Ennos writes in The Age of Wood, “that has provided continuity in our long evolutionary and cultural story, from apes moving about the forest, through spear-throwing hunter-gatherers and ax-wielding farmers to roof-building carpenters and paper-reading scholars.”
Wood craftsmanship connects us to generations of people over thousands of years. In fact, it’s now known to date back 1.5-million-years. Beyond this long arc of history, we often find closer familial ties to the craft that instill respect and appreciation. For example, we may know a grandfather or other relative who is a woodworker. Because of this, we immediately understand the mastery involved -- shaping wood into refined objects requires material and tooling knowledge as well as patience and consistent practice.
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
The tactile qualities of the material are particularly gratifying. Wood is warm to the touch and can range from a smooth, satin feel to a rustic, textured experience depending on the finishing technique. The scent of wood is aromatic. In one’s hand, its weight is significant. It is also firm and dense, showing its strength and durability. When properly handled, hardwood can extend beyond a lifetime, up to 100 years.
ONE-OF-A-KIND
Just like each individual honoree, the wood grain of every award is uniquely beautiful. These organic lines and shapes are one-of-a-kind markers, much like fingerprints. Each knot and year ring tells the story of that particular tree. The distinct qualities that make award recipients special and deserving are mirrored in the captivating character of our wooden awards.
SUSTAINABILITY
Wood is a sustainable choice because it is first and foremost a natural renewable resource that can be replenished. Wood’s longevity (meaning using less material for new products) adds to its environmental appeal. Any wood scraps and cutoffs that occur during fabrication are 100% re-usable for small scale projects, recyclable or biodegradable. We also work to ensure we replenish this valuable resource by planting one tree per order.
IMPACT ON WELLNESS
Research shows that wood produces measurable physiological and psychological health benefits. Wood has a similar stress-reducing effect to nature. Environments that incorporate wood have a calming and relaxing effect. Workers are less stressed and more productive, students learn better, patients heal faster, and people are generally happier in spaces that contain natural elements like wood.
Trophyology Wood Species
We focus on four wood species in our work: Walnut, Ebonized Walnut, Maple, and Reclaimed.
WALNUT
We use American Black Walnut finished with a no-VOC oil that brings out its rich brown coloration and beautiful warm luster. This hardwood’s grain is usually straight, but can feature a range of variations. To the touch, walnut has a subtle natural texture.
EBONY
Our Ebony wood is created by staining walnut for a bold black finish. The ebonized wood retains its natural character with grain patterns shining through. 
MAPLE
We use Northern White Hard Maple which is the strongest and most dense species of maple. Maple is a lighter colored hardwood, ranging from a cream to a light golden color. Its subtle light brown grain can be straight or wavy. Because of the hardness of the wood, the texture is very fine and smooth to the touch.
RECLAIMED
Salvaged wood is always full of personality and charm. We’ve used a variety of urban reclaimed species including reclaimed sycamore, longleaf pine, and fir.
