The O.A.K. Project
Ancient Oak Tree Reborn
Over 350 years ago, King Louis XIV - known as the Sun King - ordered a complete reorganization of French forestry, establishing what remains one of the earliest and most remarkable examples of sustainable forest management.
While most of the original trees have disappeared over time, a few still stand today, protected by law. Now approaching 400 years of age, these venerable oaks are gradually reaching the end of their natural lives. Over the past two decades, the French National Forestry Office has carefully monitored, harvested, and transformed them, one by one.
Their timber is sold through closed auctions reserved for professionals. Jean-Luc Sylvain, owner of one of France’s leading cooperages, has acquired the majority of these trees to craft his exquisite single-tree wine barrels. However, only 20 - 30% of each tree can be used for this purpose - leaving a vast amount of exceptional wood without a clear destination which until now has resulted in firewood.
OCTARR has now entered into an exclusive partnership with Tonnellerie Sylvain to rescue this precious material and give it a new life through art, design, furniture, paper, and other creative transformations.
Transformation
Our first tree was felled by the French government in August 2024, and its transformation began in January 2025 at the Tonnellerie Sylvain. The process continues through the careful drying of the timber at La Briche, and through our exclusive partnership with Ruscombe Paper Mill, where part of the wood is being transformed into handmade, pre-industrial, chemical-free paper — crafted from a unique blend of our tree’s fibres and ancient textiles.
As the wood continues to dry, more artists and artisans will join the process, each contributing to the tree’s rebirth through new works of art and craftsmanship.
The Collection
The tree will be tokenised and 1,000 tokens at $50 each will be made available for purchase.
Tree Guardians will benefit from priority access and revenue share from the sale of all downstream collectables including the paper. This revenue will establish an ongoing program of tree replanting.
Rewards of Patience
- You receive full, transferable ownership of your allocated shares in the tree, with the freedom to sell or gift them at any time.
- You become a member of OCTARR, with complimentary membership and priority access to all future projects.
- You will derive ongoing income from the sale of all downstream collectables created from Artemisia's wood. There are numerous uses already planned for this magnificent material.
- The first offspring, already in production, is a one-of-a-kind handmade paper from Ruscombe Paper Mills in Bordeaux – believed to be the first non-chemical, non-industrial paper of its kind, crafted from a blend of Artemisia's wood fibres and ancient textiles.
- You may commission bespoke work from Artemisia's wood, and we will connect you with the right artists and artisans to bring your vision to life.
- As a co-owner, you also share in Artemisia's living legacy. Further tree plantings are planned, some with an artistic dimension, as we have landscape artists eager to collaborate with us.
O.A.K.'s Passport
Become a Patron
Join our club, get involved and acquire your first work.