Birch Bark Sheets

Birch Bark Sheets — a Convenient Format for Creative and Historical Projects

The uniqueness of the pattern in every single piece. Durability, strength, aesthetics, the warmth of nature — all this is birch bark.

We’d be delighted to welcome you to our second website, dedicated to birch bark and products made from it: birkenleder.de

 

Note: When placing your order, please specify in the comments which format and colour of sheets you need. If you have any special wishes regarding thickness, texture, or uniformity of the bark, we’ll be happy to take them into account! Just leave a comment with the necessary information. You can also contact us by email if you have any questions.

 

Description

Sizes:

• 50×60 cm
• 30×40 cm

Format:

• Vertical
• Horizontal

Side:

• Outer (white)
• Inner (ochre)

Thickness:

• 1–8 mm

Need birch bark in larger quantities? Then you might be interested in this product: birch bark in 1-kg packaging.

 

Birch Bark: Possibilities, Properties, Uses

Birch bark sheets are an amazing natural material that has served humanity for centuries. It is strong, flexible, durable, has antiseptic properties and a unique texture. It is suitable both for large workshops and for individual craftspeople.

 

Where Do our Birch Bark Sheets Come From and Why is It Eco-Friendly?

We source our birch bark sheets from the northern regions of Eastern Europe. There it is collected by hand, from living trees. With the right approach, this does not harm the birch: the bark fully regenerates within 3–5 years, and the same tree can be used multiple times. We also obtain some of the material from already fallen trees.

In Eastern Europe, birch bark is a valuable material for carving and crafts — not just a source of firewood or furniture timber (like in the West). Harvesting is strictly controlled, so our birch bark is a product of responsible attitude to nature.

Birch grows quickly even in harsh climates, and its bark regenerates. That is why birch bark can rightly be called a renewable and eco-friendly material.

 

Layers of Birch Bark: Applications and Properties

Inner Layer (Bast)

This layer is processed differently depending on the task:

• it can be made very thin — for decoration, appliqués and birch bark strips
• or left thicker — for items that require rigidity and stability

Properties of the Bast:

• natural resins and tannins protect against mould and rot
• birch bark warms quickly from hands and sunlight — it’s pleasant to hold, as if it radiates the warmth of a living tree
• finished products are light and comfortable to use

Outer layer — the white side with black markings

This is the distinctive surface that comes to mind when people hear the word “birch”. It is precisely what makes birch bark so popular in decorative arts, interior design and crafts.

What you can do with it:

• painting — perfect surface for acrylic, ink and oil paints
• pyrography — produces clear, graphic lines
• carving and engraving — through-carving turns a box into a work of art
• appliqué — birch bark is used as decorative inlays for furniture, wall panels and small interior items

You can see examples of works in our showroom.

If you are just starting to master the craft of working with birch bark, check out our tips for processing birch bark — they will certainly come in handy!

 

Why Has the Price Gone Up?

Dear friends, since mid-2024 the European Union has imposed a 50% customs duty on the import of birch bark — regardless of the country of origin. This is a Europe-wide regulation that affects all suppliers. We held back prices as long as we could, but now we are forced to include this duty in the cost. Thank you for staying with us and for your understanding.