In 1994 two of my favourite films were released, I was only 3 years old myself so knew nothing about it. However as I got older and my interest in cinema grew, two of the films that everyone says you should have seen are Forrest Gump and Shawshank Redemption. I watched them both, then I watched them again and again and again some more. They are easily my two all time favourite films.
So I wanted to find some wood or memorabilia from these films that I could incorporate into a ring, unfortunately Forrest's bench is not available (yet), but the iconic white oak from the later scenes of Shawshank Redemption is available to collectors.
As much as I wish the white oak from close to Malabor farm state park, Ohio, was still standing, it isn't. Due to rot and pest damage some of the tree had to be taken down, the rest of the tree had to be taken down after being struck by lightning in 2011 and suffering wind damage in 2016. The tree's owner Dan Dees, chose to have this wood turned into lumber at a local saw mill and has been selling off the pieces to be used for commemorative items since. A lawsuit was filed in 2023 against the saw mill, for accidentally burning a large quantity of the left over timber they were storing. So there is a very limited amount of Shawshank Tree timber remaining and I am fortunate to have some pieces myself.
The book
The original story is a Stephen King novella, titled 'Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption'. I've read it, and if you like the film but have not read it you should. It has some large differences from the film, but is still a fantastic story and it's not hard to see why they chose to make it into a movie. It is lesser known than the film, but is very much the inspiration for the screenplay.
The novella told the story of Andy Dufresne, a man convicted of murdering his wife and her lover, and how, through his friendship with fellow inmate Ellis "Red" Redding, he survives, and ultimately triumphs over, the brutally harsh conditions of Shawshank Penitentiary.
The Film
Most people will have seen The Shawshank Redemption, if they haven't I am sure they have still heard of it, but will know little about what it is. This was very much the main issue the film suffered from, its title, it tells you nothing, it seems to mean nothing until you know the story. One of the films star's Oscar winner Morgan Freeman has himself suggested that the title was 'terrible' and partly to blame for the films lack of success at the box office. He felt audiences had no idea what the film would be about and wouldn't remember the words in the title until they had seen the film.
Despite its initial box office failures (keep in mind it was released the same year as Forrest Gump and Pulp Fiction for competition) it has now become one of the most popular and successful films of all time. It is often featured in the top 10 of curated lists of the greatest movies of all time.
I won't talk much more about the content of the film to avoid spoilers, but it is fair to say it is an intense, gritty and emotional drama.
The Tree
Described as one of the most iconic trees in the history of cinema, the Shawshank Oak became a tourist attraction and part of Ohio tours. It was a mighty white oak believed to be between 180 and 200 years old, located on private property but visible from the public road. It was over 100 feet tall and set the backdrop perfectly for Red's (Morgan Freeman) destination in his search for the letter that Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) had left for him. The film shows Red walking towards and then sitting beneath this tree as he reads his letter found under a piece of 'black volcanic glass, that has no earthly business being there' exactly where Andy had described.
The Ring
So the idea for the ring seemed simple, it had to use the Shawshank Oak and why not feature some black volcanic glass? I have used a white oak liner to match the wood of the original tree, the Shawshank White Oak on the outside of the ring and then an offset inlay of black glass, just as Andy Dufresne would have wanted. I have used a stainless steel wire to separate inlay rocks from wood, representing the hardened steel head of Andy's small rock hammer he used for breaking up and forming chess pieces. I am so pleased to have been able to make a ring from this iconic tree, I hope people will enjoy carrying with them and wearing an authentic piece of cinema history.
