Created as a one-of-a-kind commission, this Robbins R.1CA was designed around the extraordinary natural figure of its The Tree mahogany back and sides. Rather than placing extensive ornament directly over the body, Tyler Robbins allowed the wood to remain visually dominant and developed a symbolic “Goddess of the Tree” artwork for the instrument’s other elements. The goddess appears on the headstock, while flowing botanical and filigree patterns extend the concept across the rosette, bridge, fingerboard, and back of the neck. The artwork required an entirely new combination of materials and techniques. Robbins experimented repeatedly with laser engraving on both wood and resin until the lines, shading, and surface detail reached the desired clarity. The completed headplate brings together engraved Tree mahogany and contrasting resin imagery, while the intricate filigree rosette and bridge inlays continue the same visual language in a more restrained form. The construction was developed specifically around the character of this exceptional wood. Robbins devised a new side-bending method and body mold, then designed a dedicated bracing pattern after determining that his usual voicing approach required modification for this particular set of The Tree mahogany. Finished with an Italian spruce top, cutaway, arm bevel, understated fingerboard details, and black-and-gold Rogers tuners, “Goddess of the Tree” unites rare materials, individually engineered construction, and original artwork in a single instrument.
