MATERIALS

  • UNTREATED OAK

    As the name implies, untreated oak is not treated with oil or any other surface treatment. Products made of this material will, therefore, immediately acquire food and oil stains with use and develop a beautiful patina over time.

  • NATURAL-OILED OAK

    Natural-oiled oak looks quite similar to untreated oak but is treated with a lightly pigmented oil that contains UV-light protection qualities, resulting in an almost invisible surface treatment. This method preserves the beautiful light colour of natural oak wood.

    For aesthetic reasons, natural-oiled is Nicolene van der Walt’s preferred surface finish for oak. Although this treatment offers a measure of stain protection, clear oil provides an even higher level of protection.

  • CLEAR-OILED OAK

    This is a classic standard treatment for oak furniture and tableware, specifically for cutting boards. The wood is treated with an oil that both yellows and darkens the oak. Of all the oils, clear oil provided the highest level of protection.

  • BLACK-OILED OAK

    This wood is first ebonised, then treated with black-coloured surface oil and sealed with a clear oil.

  • CLEAR-OILED WALNUT

    This is a classic standard treatment for walnut furniture and tableware, specifically for cutting boards. Clear oil accentuates and deepens walnut wood’s naturally rich colour.

  • SOAPED OAK

    Soaping is a traditional age-old Scandinavian wood finishing method involving the application of a soap solution multiple times. The result looks much like untreated oak and the beautiful light colour of natural oak wood is preserved.

    To remove stains and dirt, one simply re-applies the soap solution with a cloth. It is important to note that soaped furniture requires regular maintenance — the wood needs to be re-soaped periodically at home. For this, Nicolene van der Walt recommends Kreidezeit Corfu Soap.

  • MATT BLACK LACQUERED ASH

    This lacquering technique accentuates the ash wood’s characteristic grain, even with the deep black finish.

  • MATT TRANSPARENT LACQUERED ASH

    This transparent finish allows the true colour and grain of the wood to shine through.

  • MATT TERRACOTTA LACQUERED ASH

    Matt terracotta lacquered ash wood results in a beautifully earthy finish.

  • MATT GREEN LACQUERED ASH

    This green lacquer (RAL 110 40 20) provides ash wood with a beautifully olive green coloured matt finish.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL INFORMATION

LACQUERED WOOD

Ash wood is widely regarded as the optimal hardwood for colour-lacquering as its open-grain structure accentuates the wood’s visually appealing texture. Nicolene van der Walt applies a transparent, matt finishing coat to all colour-lacquered wood — this provides a high level of scratch resistance, but does not prevent it fully in cases of improper use.

CUTTING & KNIFE MARKS

Customers are advised against using knives or other sharp objects directly on colour-oiled or lacquered wood objects, as they can damage the surface treatment and potentially reveal the natural colour of the wood underneath. Bear in mind that using a knife on any wooden product will result in knife marks, regardless of the wood type or finish.

To use a serving board as a cutting board, Nicolene van der Walt recommends designating one side of the board as the cutting surface. This way, the other side will remain free from knife marks and can still be displayed as an impeccable object in your home.

FOOD & METAL STAINS

Serving very oily or stain-prone foods, such as cheeses or beetroot, on any wooden object will eventually discolour its surface. All wooden tableware objects develop a beautiful patina with use over time.

The natural tannins in certain wood types, such as oak or walnut, react with ferrous metals, resulting in unwanted black stains. Therefore, contact with ferrous metals should be avoided when a wooden object is wet.

FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS

All the oil finishes Nicolene van der Walt uses are food-safe and comply with the DIN 53 160 & Norm EN 71-3 standards. If one desires to re-oil a clear-oiled wooden object after some time, Nicolene van der Walt recommends using Livos Oil Nr. 266 or Nr. 244. Never use olive or sunflower oil for re-oiling, as they are non-drying and prone to rancidification.

CARE

Please refer to the individual product pages in the ONLINE STORE for product-specific care instructions.

CLEANING & CARE DISCLAIMER

The aforementioned care and cleaning instructions are merely indicative. Nicolene van der Walt is not liable for the implementation of these instructions — the sole responsibility lies with the customer.