OLIVARI’S TREASURES

Mark says: For those that have been bugging me for the past three or more years to sell the “Flor de Soto,” I want to alert you that we are selling them now. These are some of the most beautiful and rare pieces of natural wood on the planet! We do not know how these pieces end up as they do but we do know that everyone that sees them has never seen anything like this anywhere in their travels or in their research or investigations.

First of all, for those that have not seen these incredible pieces at Scroungers, let me begin by sharing with you that this journey of confusion but surprise began in Bolivia when I first saw them and decided that I had to have them regardless of price. I was stunned, to say the least, and even until now there are but a few souls on the planet that have any info on these unique creations by nature. Everyone that sees them begins by asking the story and then by asking the name and so forth.

I have retold the story of their origin, as well as what some people think, but in reality it is all conjecture at best.
It is not a root based “burl” but rather a response within a tree that is situated on a branch or end of a branch of a tree that is known as a Soto tree. This Soto tree which is known as a Schinopsis specie of tree is very large and probably contains up to 3,000 branches or more at maturity. Those there in the know proclaim a ratio of one “Flor de Soto “piece for every 1500 Soto trees. This is hard to believe but there are few Flor de Soto pieces around and even fewer persons to speak about them.

We ran into a gentleman close to 90 years old who had been cutting down Soto trees since he was 16 years old and made it a habit to put to the side what we now know as “Flor de Soto” pieces. He had in his possession twelve “Flor de Soto” pieces which I purchased after much deliberation due to the high prices he asked. If that was all he had then it works out to the discovery of one “Flor de Soto” piece every six years or so after milling Soto trees every day!

By the way, the pieces you see here in the plethora of photos attached vary in price from $80 to $6,500 and all were sold to those handling them in the photos.