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Ironwood carving is a unique form of art from the Sonoran desert of southern Arizona and northern Mexico. It was hand crafted from desert Ironwood (Olneya Testota), a very dense and heavy wood of intriguing origin.To be suitable for carving, the wood must be exposed to the extremes of the climatic conditions that exist only in the desert. Years of exposure in this hot, dry environment cause the natural resins to collect, condense and cure, thus transforming the wood into very dense and heavy Ironwood. The government has prohibited the harvesting of living Ironwood trees, causing the artisans to search extensively for naturally fallen trees. No green wood is suitable or used for carving.
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