Mick Quilliam

Huon Pine Table ‘Seahorse in Kelp’ Created by Mick Quilliam Aboriginal Artist Mick ‘Q’ produces only one of these unique Huon Pine Tables each year. The reason for this is purely being able to source the perfect piece of timber, and being able to keep each design unique as a ‘one off’. Today, Huon Pine is a very limited resource. Most of the remaining stands are well protected within reserves and the World Heritage area. Only Huon Pine that has been appropriately salvaged through licensed operators has been used for this product. Huon Pine is considered the ‘Prince of Tasmanian Timbers’ and is one of the oldest plants on earth. Huon Pine is endemic to Tasmania growing in the West and South West areas of the state – nowhere else in the world. It is Australia’s oldest living tree and one of the oldest living organisms on earth. Mick has designed this table to be practical, unique and easy to transport and assemble. The painted design is under glass, which can be removed for easy cleaning. The huon pine top has approximately 12 coats of Mirotone spraylac for protection of the timber and the base has been oiled to allow the unmistakable scent to escape. ‘Seahorse in Kelp’ artwork was created to compliment the natural colour of the Huon Pine, but also created to tell a story about the seahorse – combining land and sea. This painting represents the seahorse sheltering in the kelp. The seahorse holds onto the kelp feeding as the currents drift past. Seahorses are poor swimmers and use their tails to anchor onto objects. They have become masters of camouflage and can change colour dramatically to suit their habitat. This camouflage helps them to avoid predators.