Australian artists Peter Cook (Pook) and Becky Northey shape living trees into sculptures, growing chairs and tables and mirror frames, even candelabras and people trees. Their partnership, Pooktre Tree Shapers, uses wild plum and black cherry for their art, which takes as long as 8 to 10 years to grow for the bigger pieces. 
Some of them stay alive in their garden and others are harvested when done. You can even collaborate with Pooktre to grow a piece for you in their garden or they can help you with one in yours.
Pook had the idea for growing a chair from willow in 1986, but the idea didn't really take root until about 1995, when he started working with suckers from wild plum trees. His partnership with Becky became Pooktre, and the couple has been growing sculptures from trees ever since.
Pooktre has shown their work at the World Expo in Japan in 2005, and are working on a book that shows others how to shape trees for furniture and art.
For more information or to contact the artists, visit the Pooktre website. Maybe you'll be inspired to start shaping your own trees or have Pook and Becky grow one for you.
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Amazing artwork. You don’t see many artists working in this medium. As a gardener, I appreciate the amount of time, patience and love that goes into projects such as these.
It was wonderful viewing your photos.
@AskMichele
Why do people always feel the need to photoshop?
Cool idea. I wonder if they have a bicycle-shaped tree. I’d like one!
Ok… So this is also ‘green’… Well, the thing is, what does ‘green’ really mean? Obviously here you’re forcing a tree to grow in the way you want, for you to to… feel glad? Very odd, and ironic that you would think you’re closer to nature this way.
excellent and beautiful! I have to admit, I don’t get Gabriel’s criticism.
this is awesome! hmmm if only you could get these chairs indoors. they would make nice patio furniture for sure though
cool. very long project!
GOIN GREEN MAN
Nicely done. can you do ohio next?
This is SO cool. I can’t wait for the ground to thaw out so I can try it!
lol, that is so cute !
I what Gabriel is getting at is the fact that this person is forcing a living thing to grow in an unnatural manner. How can we be ‘green’ when we have to constantly control nature, and can’t just live with it? These furniture-trees were interesting, by in my mind they also seem to be somewhat similar to those terrible kitten-in-a-bottle monstrosities.
This is not natural. I don’t think that we should live in caves without electricity or something, but forcing nature that much is too much.
bsilvia- the clothes that you wear wear most likely came from a farm of some sort where wool or cotton was forced to grow for your benefit.
gabriel- the word “green” is a catchphrase and nothing else. everyone has their own opinion as to what being “green” means. yes, shaping trees to make furniture might be considered “unnatural”, but consider the alternative.
Buying lawn furniture made out of plastic or wood or metal aids consumerism, creates waste, and requires energy for production and transportation. These works of art are sustainable, requires nothing but a seed, water, earth, and sun, and are something that both humans and other species can utilize. Shapping a tree might be unnatural, but it is man’s ability to micro manage resources that puts us apart from many species. I think this is an excellent use of nature.
Прикольно пишете, жизненно. Все-таки, для того, чтобы делать действительно интересный блог, нужно не только сообщать о чем-то, но и делать это в интересной форме:)
I like them, i think they are fantastic, but i am still wondering how did they do that.
Thas was fantastic. I did not know about all those things before I watched this website. This is wonderful.
This is wonderful. I think that this is a project that should be expanded all around the globe
These are so great, I wish i had thought of it.
bsilvia – what is “forcing nature” I mean what does that mean” Cant you just enjoy something without adding your political views?
This has got to be some of the most unique ideas i’ve seen in a very long time. No doubt I have seen a ton of unique rustic furniture ideas but these are ultra creative. Nice finds!
That looks so comfortable. I so want to sit on it.
Ну естественно, действительно так оно и есть.
great pictures. just wondering if you could really sit in one of those chairs or are they just for looks?
A mate encoraged me to check out this page, brill post, fascinating read… keep up the nice work!
There’s another source out there with some more pictures http://www.slightlywarped.com/crapfactory/curiosities/trees.htm
I remember that there’s an amusement park, I think in California, that is all about bent trees. Some guy made it in his back yard over something like 50 years. Awesome stuff.
I have had dreams about growing a house, the chairs and the coffee table make it look like it may be a possibility. Hmmmm Might start with a cubby house for the kids first:)
Awesome !
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