The Petrified Wood Smith, LLC works in close association with Russell-Zuhl, Inc. a world renowned producer of museum and high quality petrified wood.

Marti Smith is The Petrified Wood Smith. Her passion for petrified wood started with the purchase of a small pair of bookends when she and then fiancé, Tom, were shopping for a gift for a friend. Yes, the petrified wood bookends were given to their friend. But Marti, already a gardener for the sheer love of it, continued to be happily haunted by the new form of wood she had only read about until then. She began to learn more about it.

The colors, the various patterns, the uniqueness of each piece, the durability, the ways in which it could blend with so many decorating styles – residential and commercial….. it soon became evident to her that petrified wood was truly a natural contemporary antiquity ideally suited for today’s life styles.

In mentioning it conversationally, she was very surprised by how few people in the east had ever heard of this form of nature’s artistry, let alone having seen any of it! Since trends generally work their way from west to east, Marti felt it was time to introduce petrified wood to a wider marketplace. So, with the encouragement, patience, and support of (now husband) Tom, The Petrified Wood Smith, LLC became a reality.

Because of Marti’s passion for excellence, the association with Russell-Zuhl, Inc. was a natural one. It was Russell-Zuhl, Inc. who was the first to recognize the decorative and functional value of large petrified logs and process them into table tops, wall mountings, and other interior design pieces. It too is a company with a passion for excellence.

Quality control is paramount in every step of the labor intensive process. It starts as soon as a log is mined and progresses to cutting the log, which can take from one to several days for each board or round. Quality checks are constant as each cut piece progresses through the many stages of the polishing process. This too can take from one to several days for each piece. At last the piece is ready for the lap polish. This is the final polish which will give the wood its mirror finish. Finally each piece is properly and securely placed in its own custom made crate for shipment to anywhere in the world. No detail is overlooked or taken for granted.

Since its beginning, Russell-Zuhl, Inc. has earned and maintained an international reputation for exceptionally high quality petrified wood and craftsmanship. This strong reputation for quality has led to its ancient wood being placed in the permanent collections of several museums nationwide as well as private collections worldwide.

Together it is with great pleasure that we offer you the finest quality of ancient Arizona wood for your home and business. Please go to the “Request Information” page and introduce yourself. Then email your questions, comments, or pricing inquiry to us. Please be sure to include the inventory number(s) of the piece(s) in which you are interested.

If you have a size or predominant color requirement, please let us know. We will do our best to locate a piece that comes as close as possible to your need. In every possible way we will work with you to ensure the success of your project.