Starting Year: 1995;
Provenance: Piemonte, Italy;
Container: Terracotta Pot;
Source: Collected.

Style: Root Over Rock;
Height: 48cm (Pot Excluded);
Nebari: 15cm;
Estimated Age: 40 years old.

Available for vision and purchase at Bonsaigers’ Garden, Eupilio (CO), Italy.

This Fraxinus ornus (commonly known as orniello) has been cultivated as a bonsai for over 30 years by an Italian artist who sadly passed away in the fall of 2025. His son entrusted this piece, along with his father’s collection, to us so that the trees he dedicated his life to could continue to be cared for and shared with others.

The Fraxinus ornus is a native species of Italy, valued for its delicate, compound leaves and light, airy character. As a bonsai, it is exceptionally rare to find specimens of this age, not only because of the species’ challenges in cultivation, but also because in the 1980s working with native European material was still a revolutionary approach in bonsai. At a time when Japanese imports defined the scene, Mauro’s choice to dedicate himself to local species represented a pioneering spirit.

This tree is therefore more than a bonsai—it is a living testament to a chapter of Italian bonsai history. Its presence tells the story of an artist’s passion, his solitary dedication, and the evolution of bonsai culture in Italy. Owning or simply admiring it means becoming part of a legacy that bridges past and present.