Marcel Bader, the 24-year-old woodworking talent from Namibia, and his impressive bog oak table: Oiled with OLI-NATURA Worktop-Oil, this one-of-a-kind piece now has a place of honor in our training workshop in Brannenburg.
Marcel Bader, a talented 24-year-old woodworker from Namibia, made an impressive table from bog oak during his apprenticeship at the age of 19. Featuring bronze casting and handcrafted details, the piece is not only aesthetically striking but also functional, measuring an impressive 350 x 125 centimeters.
BLACK GOLD
Bog oak is a rarity that is rarely seen. Often referred to as “black gold,” the wood impresses with its dark to deep-black color, which it acquires after spending centuries in swamps or peat bogs. It is no wonder that the color nuances and dimensions of Marcel Bader’s handmade bog oak table captivate the viewer. The incorporation of bronze casting also leaves an indelible impression. Bader explains: “The fascination of combining bronze heated to a thousand degrees with centuries-old bog oak would not let me go.”
TIME IS MEASURED DIFFERENTLY WITH BOG OAK
At the age of 19, Marcel Bader left his home country of Namibia to begin a woodworking apprenticeship in Germany. Even as an apprentice, he took on the challenge of creating a table from ancient bog oak. This masterpiece required not only exceptional craftsmanship and creativity, but also took him on an emotional journey. Bader reflects: “I made this table during my apprenticeship, and it was both a challenge and overwhelming at the same time. More than two years passed from the initial idea to completion. It cost me a lot of nerves and countless hours, often late into the night. But with bog oak, time is measured differently.”
Bog oak is not only exceptionally hard; it also has a distinctive grain and dark color. While searching for a suitable oil that would not only protect the wood but also transparently enhance its depth of color, he came across Oli Natura’s Worktop-Oil on Instagram. After detailed consultation with the OLI team, he chose this colorless wood oil, which perfectly emphasizes the natural character of the bog oak.
This bog oak table perfectly represents Bader’s philosophy - the combination of naturalness and modernity, tradition and innovation. Each of his works tells a story. Here, it is the story of an ancient bog oak tree brought back to life and now playing a central role again in the form of a table. The bog oak table now has a place of honor: it is displayed in the OLI-NATURA training workshop in Brannenburg in Upper Bavaria, near Rosenheim. During a conversation with Marcel Bader, the question arose: "Will this table go into series production?" Marcel simply laughed and replied: "No, this table is one of a kind. But it can certainly be purchased."
ABOUT MARCEL BADER
Marcel Bader, a 24-year-old woodworker from Namibia, moved to Germany at the age of 19 to begin a carpentry apprenticeship in Schleswig-Holstein. Today, he works for a renowned woodworking company in Munich and is completing his master craftsman training. On his Instagram channel @mader_design_, he shares his passion for furniture making and has made a name for himself as a talent in the design and carpentry industry.
