Treen & Treenware Collectibles
In the old days, before everything we use was made in China, people were far from stores and had to make do with what they had. Since the early settlers were surrounded by mature deciduous forests filled with hardwoods there was no shortage of material from which to carve kitchen tools they needed.
There was also a high end to this market based on exotic imported woods, especially Lignum Vitae, which produced items for the wealthy.
The meaning of the word "Treenware" is surprisingly hard to pin down. This problem has gotten worse with the rise of Ebay. I think there is a lot of keyword title stuffing going on. Sellers know there are buyers looking for treen, so they make sure to include it in the title of any old wood item they want to seel. Most often treenware is thought of in relation to wooden household items. It is also sometimes used for any handcrafted wood items which are to small to be considered furniture.
Did you know those shingles Abraham Lincoln got famous for splitting were Black Walnut?
A search for Treenware on Ebay will reveal many items. However, I find it hard to believe all of them are as old as the sellers think they are. It looks like a product where a reputable seller is a must.
Lignum Vitae is included here because it's strength, weight, and natural oils caused it to be used for some really high end treenware products, especially in Great Britian many years ago.