Yew Tea Light Holders

A pair of tea light holders in yew, sourced from the same tree that produced my earlier yew vases. Each shows the beautiful contrast between the rich orange heartwood and the pale cream sapwood that makes yew such a distinctive timber.

Both pieces carry the marks of a tree that lived a long life — small knots, pin holes, and the occasional dark line where a branch once grew. Rather than turning these away, I’ve kept them as part of the character. They tell the story of the tree.

The shapes were largely determined by the cracks in the timber. Working around defects is part of the challenge with yew — it rarely gives you a clean, uniform blank. But the results are always worth the negotiation.

Finished with melamine lacquer to bring out the depth of colour and protect the surface from candle wax.