It’s a rare treat when fine craftsmanship, artistic sensibility, and history join together in a piece of functional furniture.  Currently showing at the Stable Gallery in Damariscotta, is a custom table with these features by Louis Charlett of New Gloucester, Maine.

Charlett has traced the history of the table’s wood, originally a submerged yellow birch log once sunk in Moose Head Lake. By counting the tree’s rings and knowing the history of tree felling equipment, Charlett can date its sprouting to between 1674 and 1679, when colonists were fighting native Americans and the British in King Philip’s war. 

Charlett found both saw marks and axe marks on the butt end of the original wood. These marks placed the tree cutting between 1865 and 1870 after the two man crosscut saw was invented and before the axe was totally phased out. The combination of rings and cutting tools make the wood approximately 340 years old.

With his humanly significant 36 years of woodworking experience, Charlett crafted this wood into a table on display at the gallery thru Sept. 6. Also on display are one of a kind wooden trays, lazy Susans, and lamps also made by Charlett.

The next show, titled “Art Harvest,” will open with a public reception on Friday, Sept. 8 from 5-7 p.m.  The gallery is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours for the public reception with the artists on the second Friday of the month. 

Stable Gallery is located at 26 Water Street in Damariscotta.  For more information, call 207-563-1991 or visit www.stablegallerymaine.com.  Better yet, go to the gallery and see for yourself the fine art and contemporary craft on display.