Project

DARA

A 350-year-old French oak, planted under Louis XIV and given a new life through art.
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DARA, a 350-year-old French oak

Planted under Louis XIV. Preserved through art.

350+Years old
c. 1669Planted
c. 5,000 kgOf oak
1,000Numbered Collectibles
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 all of the remaining timber, giving it a new life through paper, artworks and collectable objects. Nothing is wasted.

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
Making Paper from DARA
making-paper-from-dara
Meet Frédéric Gironde, papermaker at Papiers Ruscombe in Margaux, where paper is still made by hand, one sheet at a time, from linen, hemp and old textiles.
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Video
The Cassini Map collection
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The first map of France made by scientific survey took a century, four generations of the Cassini family and fifty wealthy backers. Nathan Waks on a landmark in the history of mapping, and its connection to DARA.
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Essay
14-year-old prodigy from South Korea receives Nathan Waks’ 18th-century master cello
jung-a-kim-receives-nathan-waks-cello
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
air-on-a-c-string
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
350-year-old-oak-wine-barrels
Something new to share: an exclusive interview with Jean-Luc Sylvain, owner of Sylvain Tonnellerie.
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Interview
Why we chose OAK
why-we-chose-oak
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.
why-we-chose-seppeltsfield-centenary-collection-tawny
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.
the-last-teapot
Essay
Paintings should be seen, cellos should be heard
paintings-should-be-seen-cellos-should-be-heard
“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
georges-braque-fragments
144 fragments of Georges Braque's The Last Teapot, each a unique physical print with its own Bitcoin ordinal inscription.
the-last-teapot
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

Become part of DARA’s next life

DARA stood for more than 350 years. Now its wood is becoming handmade paper, artworks and new objects through collaborations with artists and artisans.

1,000 DARA Collectibles mark this transformation. Each is individually numbered and connects its collector to the continuing story of DARA.

What you receive
  • One of 1,000 individually numbered DARA Collectibles
  • Your Collectible in your personal OCTARR collection
  • A public OCTARR Passport recording its identity and provenance
  • An on-chain Digital Record when blockchain registration goes live
  • OCTARR collector membership

As DARA evolves, you can follow the works, artists, exhibitions and stories that emerge from the tree through OCTARR.

Your DARA Collectible
Collector
€89
For those who want to become part of DARA’s next chapter.
Become a Patron
Artist
€55
Reserved for artists and artisans who want to connect with the project and its material.
By invitation
Both options give the same Collectible.

A collectible, not an investment

A DARA Collectible is a digital collectible connected to the DARA project. It does not represent ownership of DARA, its materials or artworks, and does not carry financial or revenue rights.

Read the DARA terms · Questions? See 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 Collectibles · Collector €89 · Artist €55
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