Confessions of a Chairmaker...
It was the idea of working with my hands that led me to pursue furniture making. I spent the majority of my studies in Industrial Design behind a screen. I was captivated by the anatomy of design, understanding how things fit together, and I benefited greatly as a student. But it wasn’t until my hands touched that timber that I felt I was home.
Learning any craft is a humbling experience. Those efficiently skilled can make even the most complicated joinery look effortless, when in reality it is the result of years of accumulated knowledge and muscle memory. I think it is that second part that makes furniture making feel so complete to me. That it takes all of me. My mind is fascinated by the intricacies of each design while my body physically works with the wood, taking away all the parts that are not needed, guiding its journey over tools, welding it together until I have this thing in front of me that I have created.
My fascination with chairs has evolved as I have honed my skills and abilities as a maker, and as a furniture designer. Chairmaking feels to me to be the crème de la crème of furniture making. I still remember my own awe in observing what I deemed the ‘ninja skills’ involved in creating the detailed joinery of the chairs which first inspired me on my journey.
The humble chair is the workhorse of all furniture. Construction needs to be calculated and robust, able to withstand heavy weight and misuse in such a small surface area. Its ergonomics – which are only acknowledged when not done right – immediately define its usability. Packaging these two elements within such narrow boundaries whilst creating something aesthetically pleasing and unique seems to me to be the furniture designer’s absolute challenge…
Which is why I endeavoured to design and create 10 differing styles of ‘chair’…
Below are some of my favourites so far. Each drawing on different construction techniques - from steam bending and strip lamination to a modern interpretation of traditional Danish cord weave and hand-carved organic form as well as detailed leather work. While the aesthetics vary widely, my focus on designing for longevity stays resolute throughout, and like all of my work, each piece is built to last.
