A handmade incense holder created with the intention of bringing smoke, gratitude and remembrance into ritual practice.
This piece is made from recycled holly wood salvaged from scrap at a woodturner’s mill, giving a beautiful piece of timber a second life rather than allowing it to go to waste. The natural character of the holly has been retained, while the holder has been shaped and finished by hand.
Along one side I have laser engraved:
“With smoke we give thanks to those who walk beside us.”
The wording reflects the way incense and smoke can be incorporated into personal ritual as an offering of thanks to ancestors, guides and those remembered or felt to be present in our lives.
The incense stick rests over a hand-carved limewood ash channel, allowing the ash to fall safely into the carved recess. At the opposite end is a small hand-carved offering bowl, designed for small offerings or for holding a few drops of essential oil as part of your personal practice.
Please note: the offering bowl is intended for non-flammable offerings only. Do not place a lit candle, burning material, charcoal or incense directly into the bowl, and do not use essential oils near an open flame. Always use incense on a stable, heat-resistant surface and never leave burning incense unattended.
Two small pieces of New Zealand Pāua shell have been set into the wood as decorative inlays and secured with UV resin, adding flashes of natural blue, green and iridescent colour.
Designed as a meaningful addition to an altar, ancestor space or personal ritual area, this holder combines recycled timber, hand carving, natural shell and a simple message of gratitude.
Each piece of recycled wood has its own grain, colour and character, so natural variations, knots, marks and small imperfections are part of the individuality of the finished piece.
