The Rune

Sean Boylam -Lincolnshire based craftsman 

Crafted from reclaimed timber recovered from Grimsby Docks, The Rune is a piece inspired by strength, endurance and ancient symbolism.

The wood is believed to have spent many years as part of a dockside jetty structure, exposed to the elements and shaped by time. Its remarkable weight and durability immediately drew Sean’s attention, prompting him to reflect on the history held within the material and the journey it had already taken before becoming a work of art.

Sean believes the timber may be Greenheart, Azobé or Purpleheart, hardwoods renowned for their exceptional strength and natural resistance to decay. The sheer weight of the piece is a testament to the resilience of these materials and the demanding environments they were originally used in.

While creating the work, Sean was researching Viking history and the symbols associated with it. These influences naturally found their way into the piece, alongside the Triskele, an ancient Celtic symbol found at Newgrange in County Meath, Ireland.

Representing beginnings and endings, the Triskele resonated strongly with Sean’s vision for the work. Just as the symbol speaks of cycles and continuation, the reclaimed timber has moved through different stages of existence — from working dock structure, to discarded material, and finally to a new life as a contemporary artwork.

The Rune celebrates the strength of the material, the stories carried within it and the enduring connection between history, symbolism and craftsmanship.