This guide is written to provide some information about the cypress knees that you see here on eBay.What is a cypress knee, where do they come from and what are they used for today?

A cypress knee is a wood sculpture like part of the root of the cypress tree,commonly found in swamps of the southeastern United States.Cypress trees often grow to heights of over 100 ft.,exposing the knees above the normal water level.

The 80 ft. tall Italian cypress of the Mediterranean region has been cultivated in southern Europe since antiquity. During the middle ages, craftsmen in Europe carved cathedral doors from cypress wood.An oriental species is commonly planted in cemeteries and around temples in China and India where it grows to a height of 60 ft.

In Santa Maria del Tule, a small town in the state of Oaxaca,Mexico there is an Ahuhuete cypress tree known as El Arbol de Tule,which is among the oldest living trees being well over 2000 years old. It is possibly the biggest tree in the world standing over 130 ft' high, with a trunk diameter of 33 ft. and a trunk circumference of 178 ft. In the late 1990's an organization known as 'Mi Amigo del Arbol had been set up to protect this tree.

 Today, the cypress knees are gaining popularity with Artisans as they are unique in that no two are alike.An artisan sees many characteristics, many characters within the odd shaped knees.Cypress is light weight wood and when the scaly bark has been removed by boiling the knees in water makes a fine painting surface.Never boil the cypress knees indoors as the wood does contain sap-unless you know what you are doing, leave it to those who are experienced with the bark removal.

 Hand carved and hand painted Santas are quite popular today as most cypress knees have the shape needed to easily be transformed into the likes of numerous styled Santas. For your enjoyment and buying source