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Bark peeling, Westbury Wood

©The Whitworth, The University of Manchester | All Rights Reserved

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Artist

Samuel Lucas (1805-1870)

Collection

The Whitworth, The University of Manchester

Image Link

http://gallerysearch.ds.man.ac.uk/Detail/1550

Description

Bark, especially that of oak, was once a valuable commodity. The concentrated tannins it contained were leached out in water and used to tan hides. The price of oak bark reached a peak during the Napoleonic wars when it had to be home produced, and oak coppices were specifically grown for tanning. However, it was even worth peeling the bark from large timber trees, as here, the process being performed in spring when the rising sap loosens the bark. The use of bark had declined dramatically by the 20th century due to the development of chemical methods of tanning.

Image Licence

All Rights Reserved

Image Credit

©The Whitworth, The University of Manchester

Location

Westbury Wood, Great Offley, Hertfordshire, England

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© 2024 Watercolour World | Technology by The Museum Platform

© 2024 Watercolour World | Technology by The Museum Platform