RUCHES TRONC

FRANCE, 19C
17" x 14" x 22"

Carved from solid tree trunks, these rare log beehives represent an early form of traditional European beekeeping. Known as ruches tronc in France. Such hives were used throughout rural Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, before the invention of framed hives transformed apiculture.

Each hive retains its original bark exterior and weathered surface, with a circular base added to stabilize it above ground. The deeply textured patina tells the story of decades of outdoor use, with cracks, fissures, and wear that now read as sculptural detail.