Embracing the Subtle Beauty of Unassuming Woods
As a furniture maker, I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with highly figured woods. Don’t get me wrong, I can appreciate the mesmerizing swirls and vibrant colors when done right. But more often than not, I find that woodworkers – especially those just starting out – tend to gravitate towards these showstopping materials as a crutch, using them to mask underlying design flaws or sloppy craftsmanship.
You see, I firmly believe that true mastery in our craft lies not in simply procuring the most visually striking timber, but in the ability to coax out the inherent beauty of more humble, unassuming woods through careful composition and impeccable technique. It’s like that old saying – “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Just because a piece of wood doesn’t have that coveted figure or wild grain pattern, doesn’t mean it can’t be transformed into something truly captivating.
As the late, great Christopher Schwarz once mused, “Personally, I am far more impressed by people who take homely woods and compose them beautifully to enhance the piece’s form.” And I couldn’t agree more. There’s something undeniably elegant about a finely crafted piece that lets the inherent qualities of the wood shine through, without needing to rely on gimmicky figure or wild color combinations.
The Journey of a Woodworker’s Taste
Now, I know what you’re thinking – “This guy’s just some curmudgeonly old-timer, railing against the kids and their flashy furniture.” And look, I get it. When I first started out, I too was enamored by the allure of highly figured woods. Heck, I even had a phase where I was obsessed with lacewood, reveling in its shimmering chatoyance. But as I continued to hone my skills and develop a deeper appreciation for the craft, my tastes gradually evolved.
You see, I’ve come to realize that this tendency towards “wood jewelry” – as I like to call it – is a common affliction among budding woodworkers. It’s almost like a rite of passage, where we start out being dazzled by the most visually striking materials, only to eventually (hopefully) move on to a more nuanced understanding of design and composition.
As the folks at Incollect so eloquently put it, “Wood is back in fashion in design, though it never really went out of favor.” And with this renewed appreciation for natural materials, I’ve witnessed a rising generation of makers who are truly reinvigorating the art of furniture design by striking a balance between the inherent beauty of the wood and the overall form and function of their creations.
Embracing the Imperfections: A Furniture Maker’s Perspective
You know, one of the things I love most about working with wood is the fact that no two pieces are ever exactly the same. Each board, each log, each tree – they all have their own unique character, their own subtle imperfections that add depth and interest to the final product. And it’s precisely those “flaws” that I find so captivating.
Take, for example, the way the grain of the wood flows and undulates across the surface of a drawer front or a tabletop. Or the way the rich, warm tones of a walnut burl can offset the crisp, clean lines of a well-designed piece. These are the details that truly elevate a work of furniture from the realm of the ordinary into the realm of the truly extraordinary.
As the folks at Lost Art Press so eloquently put it, “Wood is such a flexible material that can be worked in so many ways – it can be carved, bent, or just glued – and I can do all this in the smallest of studio workshops.” And it’s that versatility, that tactile connection to the natural world, that keeps me coming back to this medium, time and time again.
Finding the Balance: Celebrating the Innate Beauty of Wood
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that figured woods have no place in the world of furniture design. Quite the contrary, in fact. When used judiciously and in service of the overall composition, a touch of figure or vibrant color can be the perfect finishing touch, like the proverbial cherry on top.
As the team at Incollect observed, “Process is an important part of the production of contemporary furniture in wood, and with that in mind, we have tried to focus on makers that use, employ, or simply support craftsmen and techniques that are somewhat unusual or original in today’s crowded mass-produced design market.”
It’s all about striking the right balance – using the inherent properties of the wood, whether it be figure, grain, or color, to enhance and elevate the overall design, rather than letting the material overshadow the craftsmanship. And that, my friends, is the true art of timber selection.
The Unfinished Furniture Journey: Embracing the Imperfect
As I reflect on my own journey as a furniture maker, I can’t help but chuckle at how my tastes and preferences have evolved over the years. I remember those early days when I was just starting out, desperate to impress with the most visually striking materials I could get my hands on. But over time, as I honed my skills and developed a deeper appreciation for the craft, I realized that true mastery lies not in flashy woods, but in the ability to coax out the innate beauty of more humble, unassuming timbers.
And that’s the beauty of the unfinished furniture journey – it’s a constantly evolving process, filled with surprises, challenges, and the opportunity to continually refine one’s artistic vision. So whether you’re drawn to the bold, captivating figure of a rare wood species or the quiet, understated elegance of a well-crafted piece in plain old pine, remember that the true essence of our craft lies not in the material, but in the hands and hearts of the makers who bring it to life.
