{"product_id":"owl-memorial-bench-hand-carved-painted-solid-oak","title":"Owl Memorial Bench | Hand-Carved \u0026 Painted Solid Oak","description":"\u003cp\u003eSome benches are just somewhere to sit. This one is somewhere to remember.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe made this memorial bench in solid oak for a family in Scotland, in memory of Ruth Mackay. At the heart of the design are two barn owls — hand-carved in relief and painted by hand, facing each other with a quiet tenderness that feels entirely right for a piece like this. Flanking them are sheaves of wheat and delicate wildflower stems, and the legs carry hand-carved snowdrops, painted in soft colour. The front stretcher reads \"Forever in our hearts.\" The backrest carries the personal inscription the family chose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery memorial bench we make starts with a conversation. We work closely with families to understand who the bench is for — what they loved, where they spent their time, what words feel right — and then we build something around that. The owls, the flowers, the inscriptions: all of it is chosen by the people who matter most.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOur memorial benches are made in solid oak, built to live outside and weather the years gracefully. Whether it's placed in a garden, a favourite corner of the countryside, or a churchyard, the intention is always the same — a place to sit, to feel close, and to remember.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you'd like to commission a memorial bench of your own, we'd love to hear from you. Every piece is completely bespoke, and we're always happy to talk through ideas, however early in the process you are.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eFinish\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis piece is supplied \u003cstrong\u003eunvarnished\u003c\/strong\u003e as standard. Left natural, solid oak slowly weathers to a soft, silvery-grey — completely normal for outdoor timber, a graceful way for a piece to age, and with \u003cstrong\u003eno maintenance needed\u003c\/strong\u003e. If you’d prefer to bring out the grain and warm, honeyed tones, choose the \u003cstrong\u003evarnished\u003c\/strong\u003e option (+£50) and we’ll hand-apply three coats of Epifanes, a premium marine yacht varnish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer; font-weight:bold;\"\u003eMore about the two finishes\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-top:8px;\"\u003eOutdoor furniture takes a real beating from sun and weather. Left natural, an unvarnished piece simply silvers over time and asks nothing of you. A varnished piece keeps its rich sheen for a couple of years; after that the varnish may begin to flake or patch, at which point you can simply re-coat it, or let it weather back to that natural silvery-grey. Either way, your oak is fine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e","brand":"FreeRangeDesigns","offers":[{"title":"Unvarnished","offer_id":57103092253047,"sku":null,"price":2738.7,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Varnished (+£50)","offer_id":57222619726199,"sku":null,"price":2798.23,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0267\/7673\/1729\/files\/owl-memorial-bench-hand-carved-oak-01_9bef6fe7-95d2-45cf-a349-35dd1bb305c8.webp?v=1779181097","url":"https:\/\/freerangingdesigns.com\/en-de\/products\/owl-memorial-bench-hand-carved-painted-solid-oak","provider":"FreeRangeDesigns","version":"1.0","type":"link"}