Unique Exotic Tea Light Candle Holder

This elegant tea light holder is beautifully handcrafted from three exotic hardwoods sourced from different regions in Africa; Wenge, Padauk, and Lati. Measuring approximately 2”X2”X12”, this tea light holder is an excellent decorative centerpiece for a table or desk.

The wood chosen for the design and creation of this piece is has its place in our Wild Hermit philosophy, with each of the three types having traditional regional medicinal applications.

Millittia laurentii is a tree native to countries in Central Africa such as Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is known for its dark, dense heartwood named Wenge. Its strength and striking appearance makes it a popular choice for high end furniture, flooring, and musical instruments. While visually stunning, we value it for other reasons as well. Wenge has also been used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments.

Padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii) comes from Central and Tropical West Africa, specifically countries such as Nigeria, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo as well; while other Padauk species come from parts of Asia. The heartwood can range from a pale pinkish orange to a vibrant reddish orange. The beautiful coloring, coupled with its high resistance to decay, make it a popular choice for both furniture pieces as well as culinary applications such as cutting boards. Just like the Wenge, Padauk also has a long standing history of traditional medical usage, with specific species having varying benefits. Depending on the specific species of Padauk, this gift from the earth has traditionally been used to medicinally treat and topically treat to heal.

This brings us to Lati, the light brown colored horizontal strip of wood is also known as White Wenge, and scientifically as Amphimas pterocarpoides. This beautiful tree comes from west African countries such as Ghana. Cameroon, and the Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire). Once properly kiln-dried, it has good workability and is often used in furniture making, musical instruments, flooring and trim. It with the Wenge and Padauk, the Lati also has roots in traditional and ethnomedicinal uses for a wide range of purposes.

These three were chosen not only for their natural beauty and how the contrasting colors complement each other, but also for their rich history in traditional healing and wellness applications.

Thank you so much for considering our small farm & family business.