Project

DARA

A 350-year-old French oak, planted under Louis XIV and given a new life through art.
Become a Patron · Soon availableExplore the works
DARA, a 350-year-old French oak

Planted under Louis XIV. Preserved through art.

350+Years old
c. 1669Planted
c. 5,000 kgOf oak
1,000DARA Patron Tokens
Origin

A 350-year story, continued

More than 350 years ago, Louis XIV ordered a vast reorganisation of France’s forests. Oaks were planted as a strategic national resource. A small number survived into the 21st century.

As these trees reach the end of their natural lives, they are monitored and selectively harvested by the French National Forestry Office (ONF), and sold through closed tenders to professionals.

Tonnellerie Sylvain acquires exceptional individual oaks for single-tree wine barrels. Yet only part of each tree can be used for cooperage. OCTARR preserves part of the remaining timber, giving it a new life through paper, artworks and collectable objects.

Ancient oak forest
DARA in transformation
Transformation

From a living tree to new work

DARA was felled in August 2024. Its transformation began in January 2025 at Tonnellerie Sylvain.

While the timber continues to dry at La Briche, part of the tree has already begun another life. At Ruscombe Paper Mill, papermaker Frédéric Gironde is transforming DARA’s fibres into handmade paper, using traditional methods and no chemicals.

As the project evolves, artists, designers and craftspeople will continue to respond to DARA, creating new works from its wood and paper.

Partners
Tonnellerie SylvainLa BricheRuscombe Paper Mill, Frédéric Gironde
Jean-Luc Sylvain on DARA
14-year-old prodigy from South Korea receives Nathan Waks’ 18th-century master cello
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At the close of the inaugural Classic Cello International Competition in London, 14-year-old Jung A Kim received a prize no competition had offered before: the loan of Nathan Waks’ 18th-century Italian cello.
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News
Latent Memory
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OCTARR is very proud to present Latent Memory: the first work in Harto’s Memoria Viva series, printed on paper made from Dara, our 350-year-old French oak.
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News
Air on a C String
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The first in a series of excerpts from Jung A Kim’s debut concert on Nathan’s cello: a program we’ll be unpacking piece by piece over the coming weeks, each fragment revealing a different facet of the instrument’s voice, and of Jung A’s extraordinary gift.
carcassi-cello
Video
Why a 350-year-old oak makes the world’s most expensive wine barrels
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Something new to share: an exclusive interview with Jean-Luc Sylvain, owner of Sylvain Tonnellerie.
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Interview
Why we chose OAK
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In 2006, I was a part owner and CEO of Kilikanoon, a boutique Australian wine brand. I used to receive daily news alerts with wine related content. One caught my eye. It described the recent felling of a magnificent 350 year old French oak, planted by order of King Louis XIV, the famous Sun King.
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Essay
Why we chose Seppeltsfield Centenary Collection Tawny.
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After a long career as a professional cellist, a new millenium dawned, and serendipitously, I found myself deeply involved in the rapidly expanding Australian fine wine market. Seppeltsfield was a sleeping giant with a treasure trove of ancient fortified wines. Its impending sale was an opportunity too good to be true.
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Essay
The Last Teapot- an overlooked masterpiece by Georges Braque- co founder of Cubism.
the-last-teapot--an-overlooked-masterpiece-by-georges-braque
Georges Braque is best known as the co-founder of Cubism with Pablo Picasso at the beginning of the twentieth century. His very late works are little known, as most have never been offered for sale.
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Essay
Paintings should be seen, cellos should be heard
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“Jimmy’s Cello” is in fact how I came to know this amazing instrument. James Whitehead was an eminent British cellist who had emigrated to Australia after WW II, and subsequently had a wonderful career in Adelaide, as its preeminent cello teacher as well as a distinguished performer. His cello was legendary.
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Essay
Georges Braque Fragments
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144 fragments of Georges Braque's The Last Teapot, each a unique physical print with its own Bitcoin ordinal inscription.
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DARArtNouveau
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Seven contemporary artists respond to DARA, a 350-year-old French oak. Each work is a triptych: an 18th-century Cassini map, a plate from an 1895 herbarium, and a new work on handmade paper made from DARA's wood.
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DARArtNouveau at ArtOnPaper 2026
artonpaper-2026
17th Century Tree | 18th Century Science | 21st Century Technology
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October 2, 2026
October 4, 2026

Tour & Taxis Rue Picard 3,
1000 Brussels Booth H4

Patronage

1,000 tokens. One remarkable tree.

DARA’s story does not end when the tree is felled. Patronage creates a direct connection to what comes next.

Each of the 1,000 DARA Patron Tokens is a digital asset connected to the project and its evolving story. Tokens are recorded on the blockchain and can be transferred at any time.

As a DARA patron
  • Complimentary OCTARR membership
  • Priority access to works created from DARA
  • Priority access to future OCTARR projects
  • The opportunity to commission bespoke work using DARA wood or paper
Collector Token
€89
For collectors who want to support DARA and follow the works created from it.
500 available
Become a Patron · Soon available
Artist Token
€55
For artists and makers who want to connect with DARA and its material.
500 available
Become a Patron · Soon available
A maximum of 100 tokens per patron. · Questions? Read the FAQ
Passport

DARA’s Passport

Name
DARA
Species
Quercus petraea
Planted
c. 1669 (ONF certified)
Origin
Forêt d’Écouves, Normandy
Felled
August 2024
Transformation began
January 2025, Tonnellerie Sylvain
Weight
c. 5,000 kg
Girth
Over 1 metre
Status
In transformation

Become a Patron of DARA

1,000 DARA Patron Tokens · Collector Token €89 · Artist Token €55
Become a Patron · Soon availableExplore all projects