Wine Barrel Art – Part 1: Origins
“Wine barrel art” can be defined as the broad range of aesthetic objects made from wine barrels through an artisan’s skill and creative imagination. These objects make natural elements of a “wine décor” for decorating and accessorizing wineries, tasting rooms, bars and restaurants, as well as home wine cellars and bars.
In this article we provide a brief review of wine barrel art – focusing on its origins in the old world folk-art of barrel carving. In Part 2 of this article we will provide an overview of the wide range of artisan products made from wine barrels today.
Wine barrels have been around a very long time. The first recorded accounts of wood casks used for storing and transporting wine were in Babylon about 4000 years ago. However, the wine barrel we know today was most likely developed by the Celts around 400 BC, who had migrated to what is now the Burgundy region of France. They used techniques employing heat, water and pressure adapted from ship-building to shape wood staves into water-tight containers. The Romans embraced the concept and made extensive use of these barrels to transport all kinds of bulk goods around their empire, spreading the art of barrel making widely across Europe.
Wine Barrel Decor
For some, the term “Wine Barrel Décor” evokes images of kitschy knick-knacks, furniture, and planters and made from old wine barrels. Not anymore. Today’s burgeoning interest in wine, wine country lifestyle and wine-themed décor is driving an enormous wave of interest in high-end decorative wood art incorporating or made from wine barrels and casks.
We see this trend across a broad range of markets – high-end restaurants and bars, elegant tasting rooms, modest eateries, fine home wine cellars and bars …the list goes on. Some see wine barrel decor as a way to bring the casual, romantic charm of their favorite winery into their home or business. For others it’s a modern update to the old world folk art of barrel carving. Either way, it seems to speak directly to the heart of the wine lover in almost everyone.
In this article we review a number of examples of wine barrel décor our company, eWoodArt.com has provided to this broad range of clientele. First, some examples from a couple large new restaurants.
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