Thuya Wood from Essaouira: A Thousand-Year-Old Craft
The story of thuya wood is not just the story of a material — it is the story of a city, a civilisation, and generations of craftsmen who preserved the secret of this exceptional art.
Essaouira — Capital of Thuya Wood
On the Atlantic coast of southwestern Morocco, the city of Essaouira (formerly Mogador) stands as a witness to a rich civilisational history. It is the only place in the world where the craft of thuya wood carving is rooted with such depth and distinction.
A tree that grows only here
The thuya tree (Tetraclinis articulata) grows in a very specific area of the western Mediterranean basin, concentrated particularly in the mountain and coastal areas surrounding Essaouira. What makes the wood precious is not the trunk — but the roots and burls that are carefully extracted from the earth.
A thousand years of craft
Historical sources document the use of thuya wood in Roman civilisation to make precious tables (the Roman thuya table — mensa thuina) considered among the most valuable possessions of the wealthy. In Essaouira, this craft passed from generation to generation through the traditional apprenticeship system of the old medina.
Why is every piece unique?
Thuya wood patterns are formed by nature over decades. A single tree root may yield pieces with completely different patterns. This absolute uniqueness is what makes thuya products valuable — not just as tools, but as works of art.