Big Mango Trading Company Blog

Rooted in Sculpture

admin — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:50:31 +0000

Not many of us can boast about coming from such stellar looking roots as can these sculptures. Saved from trees harvested for other purposes or salvaged from the consequence of nature’s toll, these tree root and and other sculptural pieces still have a lot of life to give.

Massive Teak Root Sculpture

Teak Root "Star"

Teak Root Screen

Strangler Fig- Feeds off of and eventually kills it's host tree.

Ocean Wood- Ocean and Sand Weathered Tree Roots.

Tree Skin- The outer bark of an Acacia tree is shaved and polished.

Nature Made Sculpture

admin — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:48:23 +0000

Even the most talented human sculptor is no match for the awe-inspiring works of Mother Nature. With stone as her medium and time and weather as her tools, she creates extraordinary art…

Basalt Columns

Vertically occurring basalt occurs when molten lava cools quickly.

Basalt Megalith

Most caves are formed from the weathering of rock, usually limestone.

Cave Wall

Water eroded limestone creates interesting sculptures that we refer to as Contemplation Stones.

Contemplation Stone Sculpture

Bowls are created from carving around naturally occurring voids in limestone and coral earth.

Madura Bowl

Pillow basalt is formed from volcanic eruptions under water or ice.

Bone Stones

An enviable water feature is as easy as 1-2-3…

admin — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 17:13:09 +0000

If you need a few ideas on how to add a little splash to your outdoor space without a lot of hassle or manual labor, then this post is for you. We’re not digging up yards or building pools here- these are jobs that can be accomplished with one or two sets of hands.

Begin by choosing your vessel of choice. Almost anything can be turned into a fountain. Of course, bowls and urns of all kinds are obvious choices, but so are statuary and earthy, organic pieces.

Petrified Wood Fountain

Gurgling Madura Bowl

Lava Stone Bowl

Madura Bowl

Clam Shell

After you’ve chosen your piece, then decide if the water will be contained within the fountain, or flow over. As you might have guessed, a water feature where the water is contained is the easier option. All you need to do is drill a hole for the pump chord, put in the pump, seal the hole and voilà.

If the water will flow out and over, then you’ll need a few more supplies. Specifically, it will require a plastic box, bricks or cinder blocks, plastic grating, decorative stone or the like, and access to an electrical outlet. Installation here is little trickier, but still manageable.

Iron Bowl and Flagstone

Pyramid Fountain

If you choose to go this route then please come visit us- we’re happy to walk you through the process or refer you to one of our trusted landscape designers.

Where to Spend Your Spring?

admin — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 02:25:30 +0000

It’s fixin’ to be summer in Texas, and you know what that means- it’s about to get hot! So, if you’re looking for the perfect perch from which to while away your spring before summer makes it’s sweltering debut, look no further…

It doesn’t get any more chic than this…

Teak Summer Bed

Sit or snooze, this oversized daybed can fit you and at least a half dozen of your favorite people…

Simple Daybed

Probably the prettiest daybed on the block…

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe- from which relaxing throne should I spend my spring?

Slab Wood for Tables, Desks, Counters, Headboards and So Much More…

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:47:34 +0000

In case you haven’t noticed, big chunky wood is all the rage. While we all know that a thick solid slab will create a jaw dropping dining table or desk, did you ever consider it, for example, as a floating counter? Or if the space allows, how about a beautiful slab placed vertically as a room divider or half-wall? Some pieces are so darn pretty that they beg to be mounted to a wall with no particular purpose at all…art, if you will.

Whatever your ambition, Big Mango has the slab. Acacia, Tamarind, Teak, Iron Wood, Coffee Wood and Jackfruit are the most common wood species in our collection. Choose your favorite piece and we’ll cut it to your specified size and re-finish it just how you want it.

For tables with bases (dining tables, desks, consoles, etc.) we use a mix-and-match approach. We offer a few really interesting options for bases, including stumps from rare woods and vines, as well as modern and contemporary bases from steel and wood. If we don’t have a base that’s perfect for you, then we are happy to refer you to an artisan for a custom job. However you choose to mix and match, Big Mango’s process allows you to tailor your tastes to your table.

Here’s how it works:

Choose the slab (there’s more where these came from)…

Selection of Hardwood Slabs

Choose the length and finish…

Slab in the re-finishing process

Choose the base…

Custom Iron Base

And your table is complete…

Acacia Wood Dining Table

A few other examples…

Teak and Acrylic Slab on Stainless Steel

Round Slab on Coffee Wood Trunk

Acacia Slab on Custom Iron Base

Tribal Art for the Culturally Curious Decorator

admin — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 20:52:32 +0000

Indonesia is home to thousands of culturally distinct groups that occupy roughly 6,000 islands. (The rest of the country’s 11,508 islands are humanless.) Because of the cultural richness of the entire country, it seems unfair only to speak about a few of the societies. But I think you’ll find these cultures and their traditional art representative of the fascinating history of the Indonesian people.

I shouldn’t forget to mention that all of these wonderful pieces can be found at Big Mango Trading Co.

TORAJA

To the Tana Toraja people of Sulawesi, the water buffalo is perhaps the most significant living creature, other than humans. It is not only a symbol of wealth and nobility, but also a tremendous asset for it’s trading value and meat. Because they are so revered, wooden buffalo heads like this adorn the front of most traditional Toraja houses.

: Water Buffalo

Toraja House Panel

The architecture belonging to the Tana Toraja people of Sulawesi is fascinating because of it’s unusual shapes and expressions. This panel is one of many that make up the front wall of a traditional Toraja home. The carvings represent the families’ social status and belief system, which is generally centered around prosperity and fertility.

: Toraja House Panel

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Traditionally, necklaces like these were traded among the people of Papua New Guinea for the sole purpose of building mutual trust and social and business relationships. Made of seashells and plant fiber, these pieces were proudly worn.

Papua New Guinea Necklace

BALI

Batik in Bali and throughout Indonesia is as much a part of the local culture as is satay and gado-gado, two common street vendor and menu offerings. Traditionally made for sarongs and other ceremonial dress, batik patterns today are incorporated into decorative textiles and fashionable clothing for international consumers.

Batik!

SUMBA

Being one of the few cultures in the world that have built megalithic burials, the people of Sumba treat their ancestral spirits or ‘Marapu’ seriously. These ‘guardian figures’, as they are also considered, are prominent in Sumbanese life, art and architecture.

Wood Guardian Figures

Ancestral Spirit on Horse

Stone Marapua

Proof That Landscaping Is An Art Form

admin — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 21:15:35 +0000

If you thought that landscaping was just a bunch of digging, planting and grueling yard work, then it is my pleasure to enlighten you. Join me in a short, visual adventure through the out-of-the-box gardens of landscaper and artiste, Rod Russel-Ides. Believe me, you won’t want this picture show to end.

A Pool for Reflecting

Trés Chic Fountain and Waterfall

Paradise Pool

Orbit-Shaped Stone and Wood Terrace

These are just a few of the stunning landscapes in Rod Russell-Ides’ repertoire of Signature Gardens. Yes, he makes our pieces look magical (see glass disc and water jars above) and we do love it when he incorporates them into his space, but most of the time he creates wonderful art all on his own.

Signature Gardens by Rod Russell-Ides 214.454.8615

“Whether it be a Tropical Paradise or Urbanscape, English Country or Wildscape (he calls is Greenarchy), Texas Casual or modernist Xeriscape, this designer does it all. His elegant and award-winning gardens reflect a distinctive artistry. From the hand-drawn designs to the impeccable installations, Rod Russell-Ides has been an innovative force in Dallas, Austin and Houston for almost two decades.”

From a generous spirit, a Dallas park is born.

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:37:39 +0000

The overflowing landscape of Dragon Park must certainly cause some rubbernecking by passers-by. Sprouting out of the surrounding pavement, this little parcel of land at the corner of Hood and Cedar Springs has been transformed into a contemplator’s dream. Those who stop and stroll through the public garden are rewarded with whimsical figures and restful nooks, all worked into the landscape magically to create a glimpse of what a fairy tale might look like. In this fairy tale, the generous man behind Select Salon, Mark Maham, and his business partner, graciously lent to the Dallas community a piece of land and all of its treasures, if for no other reason than to share their vision of beauty with us. In this case, a fairy tale has come true…

Hood Street Entrance

Cedar Springs entrance

Petrified Wood Sculpture from Big Mango

Friendly gargoyle from Big Mango

Woman in Bronze

Angel under a pergola

Stone Pond from Big Mango

Petrified Wood Sculpture from Big Mango

For the color obsessed…

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:37:51 +0000

We offer you slag glass. Although it is just the byproduct from glass production or recycling, it looks exotic and and brightens any landscape like a vibrant rainbow.

Blue and green 'jewels' at Big Mango

Yellow glass at Big Mango

A rainbow of colors at Big Mango

You may have noticed it in applications around town and elsewhere. But in case you haven’t, we’ll share a few more photos.

Slag glass art installation. Abacus in Dallas, TX

Slag glass art installation. Valencia, Spain

Slag glass fireplace centerpiece. Courtesy of Dwell with Dignity

You don’t need a pot of gold to have a rainbow of your own. We offer all of the colors shown here and more for a mere $2.25 a pound.

So, what’s the deal with the petrified wood?

admin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:44:09 +0000

Fairylake Botanical Garden in Shenzhen, China

We get so many questions about the petrified wood pieces that we carry, and rightly so. Outside of the Petrified Forest, large chunks of petrified wood are not commonly seen. We happen to have a very nice collection of pieces of all sizes, up to 7′ tall and weighing who knows how many tons.

Massive Petrified Wood with large iron content

Where are our pieces from?

Our pieces come from Southeast Asia. And while they’re considered young in petrified wood years, the average age is still a very respectable 63 to 1.8 Million years old.

What kind of trees are (were) they?

During the petrifying process, every atom of the tree is replaced with occurring elements in the ground at that time. So, identifying a tree’s species after it has essentially turned to stone is very difficult.

Why do the colors vary?

The color is determined by the specific minerals and elements that have replaced the tree’s composition during petrification. Common minerals in the region are quartz, chalcedony and jasper. Iron affects petrified wood with brown and amber tones, while manganese infused woods are black and/or grey.

Petrified Wood with Manganese

What do you do with petrified wood?

Petrified wood is not only a sought after collector’s item, but it’s functional, too. Of course, the massive pieces are magical as sculpture, and our vendor is very skilled at polishing the pieces to accentuate their beauty. Smaller, more symmetrical pieces lend themselves to be used as end tables, stools, garden tables and nightstands. Any piece can be drilled and set up to be a stunning water feature, which is a sophisticated trend in landscaping now.

Can I get a piece made to order?

Obviously, petrified wood is nature’s craft, but we can arrange to have a piece cut to specific dimensions, and polished to order.