I was chatting to Chris, a very pleasant young man at the Harrogate show and after a while he asked if I wanted to see some pictures of a recently completed project. I was amazed.
Ostensibly a rectangular table and stool, has been designed with lots of subtle curves, angles and chamfers which all work to create a piece that's beautiful. The more you look, the more little details are discovered.
Chris has been 'on the tools' for 17 years and was introduced to woodworking at 7 years old. He's currently working at Cubby Construction in Carlisle and is looking to build up this bespoke side of the business.
The 'Nakashima' butterfly keys were added to wood which had been carefully split part way.
The double curves on the legs have an animal grace.
The stretchers were bent by laminating thin strips of ash, Chris then added a veneer of ash to cover the glue lines.
The stretchers were then shrouded in Wenge to match the dovetail keys.
The rear was treated with the same attention to detail with a wenge veneer on the back of the mirrors.
Dear David,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all I have to say what a gorgeous table! This is pure craftsmanship and it really is a masterpiece on its own. The design is really stunning, it has refined curves in the chassis combined with the raw look of the dovetail ‘stitched’ cloven planks for the table top. Furthermore I really like the contrast between the overall use of light ash against the darker tone of wenge used for details. This is truly a piece of furniture I could see standing in my own house but I am affright the price is a bit over my head at this stage of my life.
Kind regards,
Arthur De Lorenzo
Dear David,
ReplyDeleteThis project is mind blowing. I'm amazed by how all this details are in the project and still don't over kill the design. Always when I try to make a design the details making my project weaker than stronger in my opinion. But that's maybe only a opinion. K.i.S.S (keep it stupid simple) is the trick they learn us on the furniture school, but this absolutely gorgeous furniture piece is the right example of that details can make a project better.
Kind regards,
Roy de Jong
Dear David,
ReplyDeleteYou're right when you say the longer you look, the more you see. If I just came across the first picture, I might have just scrolled by it. But the more you look at the other pictures, the more you notice the attention to detail. I especially like the handles in the front. Because of the slight curve in the table, they're not perfectly mirrored. The contrast between the light and dark wood just looks plain pretty.I think your friend Chris has every right to be proud of this project, it really does look stunning.
Kind regards, Sarah
Dear David
ReplyDeleteI am a student from the Netherlands. Our English teacher gave us the assignment to read your blog and comment on it.
It’s a beautiful table at first I like it a lot. The wood choices you made with dark and lighter wood is perfect I think. The rounding in the legs and the other curving’s in the furniture are very elegant. The dovetails you used are a nice detail you’ve made also because it’s in the stretchers. Personally, I think that’s very nice to bring some details back in other pieces of the furniture.
Greetings from the Netherlands Bart.
Dear David,
ReplyDeleteThis table is very impressive. I aspire to become a woodworker like Chris. I admire his attention for detail, for example that the stretchers were shrouded to match the dovetail keys. The design is very timely and incorporates the craftmanship of woodworking very well. In the comment I saw that everybody loves the dark and light wood contrast. I also love the contrast, it really makes the piece stand out. I also like the dark colored leather on the stool. It complements the Wenge very well. Do you have any idea how long it took Chris to make this piece?
Kind regards,
Jess
Dear David,
ReplyDeleteYou are where right when you said that the longer you look, the more you get to see. At first I scrolled through your pictures quite fast trying to read the whole blog. But later I went back and as you said there was so much to see. The more you look, the more you notice the attention to detail. I also like the dark and light wood contrast in the dressing table it really makes the peace stand out. But as you said yourself everybody loves that kind of contrast.
But of course the compliments should go to Chris who made the table. He has every right to be proud of this project.
Kind regards,
Eef
Dear David I’m glad to have read your blog about this wonderful project,
ReplyDeleteit shows incredible skill and the small details look amazing.
It is not easy to have so many interesting details without is being very loud.
I don’t think a lot of people can do that.
The Nakashima butterfly keys are by far my favourite detail, But then again I’m a huge fan of Japanese woodworking.
the idea to split the wood on purpose has never come to mind, I will remember that.
If you ever meet him again tell him People really enjoy his work.
Kind regards,
Stéphane Boeltjes
First of all that’s a beautiful table Chris has made there i want to thank you for sharing this piece of art and explaining it in a way that still brings the beauty out of it. Seeing these kind of designs and the effort that has been put into it just puts a smile on my face it just shows the true beauty of what you can make if you just put your mind to it and put a little bit of effort. Woodworking truly is a piece of art. I hope Chris will continue his work and achieve what he’s dreaming for.
ReplyDeleteKind regards
Aldayr Jansen