A single flat splint of hickory bark in pale straw, long and slightly bowed with fine grain running its length.

Hickory bark is the inner/outer bark of a hickory tree, shaved and cut into around 1-in. strips of various lengths depending on height of tree, location of knots, and other factors. Hickory bark is commonly used for chair seating material.

Composition

Hickory bark

Handling Notes

  • Soak before weaving using a warp/weft method
  • Hickory bark may require thinning with a spokeshave, then it should dry fully and be oiled
  • Splice bark by notching both ends, overlapping them, and tying with waxed linen or twine
  • Sourcing hickory bark (or oak or ash) is difficult from suppliers and is often reserved for personal use by those who harvest it annually
  • While not ideal for outdoor seating, it is quite durable

Applications in Craft

Keywords

Provenance

Silver River Chairs, Weaverville, North Carolina. Acquired 2026.

In Use

Have you used this material?

Please contact Mellanee Goodman, Program Director, Curator, and Materials Specialist, to start a conversation about submitting your work for inclusion on this site.

mgoodman@centerforcraft.org