Interesting Pieces of Furniture - 2

[Anonymous]

Really like about 90% of this table.

The outward curve of the ebony feet spoils the look for me. I know some tension in a design can really lift the look but this detail makes it look like a spider about to run off.

Spadge has just spoilt it for me!

It does look like spider. Perhaps it just needs that chair in front of it.

Brad

 

[Scrit]

It does look like spider.

Funny. I thought it looked more like it was on tip toes :?

Scrit

 

[Alf]

I'm just wondering how effective it is as a desk; which might get me an A for practicality but probably a fail for Soul...

Cheers, Alf

 

[spadge]

It does look like spider.

Funny. I thought it looked more like it was on tip toes :?

Scrit

A spider on tip toes?

 

[Good Surname or what ?]

Paul,

I have considered the idea of a "Windsor love chair". Some ideas are bubbling. Whether I have the skill to pull it off is another thing. It's very easy to critique the work of such masters as Savage and Beckvoort but I wish I had fraction of their ability. (Having read that it doesn't look quite right - a fraction of their ability is EXACTLY what I have )

 

[Anonymous]

you know its nice to see someone who accepts certain things are better using modern methods, spraying and burnishing the million dollar table.

Great work.

 

[ike]

Apart from what is clearly, beautifully crafted. More art than furniture - what makes it stand out for me is the asymmetry -nice!

Ike

 

[Paul Chapman]

I prefer the table which Krenov made in this shape. Not as high fashion as this one, but better proportioned.

Hi Mike,

Do you have a link to any pictures of that Krenov table - would be nice to see it. I really like his stuff.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Philly]

Mike
Is that the Italian Walnut table that follows the curce of the timber?
If so it is in the book "The Impractical Cabinetmaker". Sorry - don't know of any online pics.
Cheers
Philly

 

[MikeW]

Mike
Is that the Italian Walnut table that follows the curce of the timber?
If so it is in the book "The Impractical Cabinetmaker". Sorry - don't know of any online pics.
Cheers
Philly

Hi Paul and Phil--yep, that's the one. Same basic shape of the top. Side drawer of the narrow end.

I'll ask if I can scan and post it.

Take care, Mike

 

[woodbloke]

When I posted earlier the top shape did remind me of JK's walnut table..a stunning piece in its own right, tho' like Philly I don't know of any on line links to it - Rob

 

[greybeard]

This beautifully designed and crafted piece is just too alien for my bricks and mortar world; but strangely too 'tame' for my mental gallery of 'if only I could create something as beautiful as that' pieces.
Spidery, tippy-toed, almost teetering, almost 'fussy' - however it's described I think that at its simplest it just appears too fragile to me (though I very much doubt it is!).

I wouldn't feel comfortable using it for my real table uses (leaning on, eating at, writing on, making models on, playing shove ha'penny on, etc etc) - doesn't look 'right'!
So it's a potential ornament to feast the eyes - which indeed it does, but not quite enough.

Does this mean that I'm probably more function than form at heart?
Or rather that I have peasant taste?

This is a challenging exercise Tony - cracking idea. I realise threads have almost 'natural' lifetimes, but how about a new one every 10 days or so?

 

[Drew]

I don't see anything :x :x :x

Drew

 

[Anonymous]

Wow, this one is very popular. I can see why my all-time-favourite got a frosty reception if this is your cup of tea. Chalk and cheese.

Must admit that I can't decide if I like this one or not. It is not really to my taste, I don't like dark woods very much and I am not keen on over elborate designs.

I think that on the whole, I do quite like it, but wouldn't want one (or to build one).

I prefer clean and simple design (like the Becksvoort piece :wink: )

 

[Paul Chapman]

Chalk and cheese.

But woodworking would be quite boring if we all liked the same stuff :wink:

Thanks for kicking off this theme, Tony - it's resulted in some very interesting and stimulating discussion.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[dedee]

The reasons I was not so keen on the Becksvoort piece are certainly not echoed here. I like the shapes and the curves although it is a little too fine and thin for my liking.
I'd bet that this piece would be a lot more challenging to construct than the "big box with small boxes inside tall boy".

Andy

 

[Alf]

Hmm... except the more simple something is the fewer places there are to hide. You can't suddenly opt for a bit of inlay or tack on a bit of moulding as a result of a "Design Opportunity"*. And everyone knows what a big box with smaller boxes should look like - how d'you know what this was going to look like?

I'm not at all saying this is the case in this instance, but the difference between building well-known, old designs and something modern and new sort of reminds me of classical music - if you're playing Beethoven's Fifth you'd better jolly well know what you're doing because even non-musicians are going to spot a dischordant note. If you're playing a new piece by Harrison Birtwistle will anyone but the composer really spot it if you change something?

Not that I don't like it. Well maybe like is too strong a word. I admire the workmanship but as a design it doesn't grab me much to be honest. But then the Becksvoort didn't really grab me either, although of the two I'd rather have the Shaker 'cos it looks a more useful piece of furniture.

Cheers, Alf

*Remember, we don't have mistakes - we have Design Opportunities :wink:

 

[Shivers]

Hmm... except the more simple something is the fewer places there are to hide. You can't suddenly opt for a bit of inlay or tack on a bit of moulding as a result of a "Design Opportunity"*. And everyone knows what a big box with smaller boxes should look like - how d'you know what this was going to look like?

I'm not at all saying this is the case in this instance, but the difference between building well-known, old designs and something modern and new sort of reminds me of classical music - if you're playing Beethoven's Fifth you'd better jolly well know what you're doing because even non-musicians are going to spot a dischordant note. If you're playing a new piece by Harrison Birtwistle will anyone but the composer really spot it if you change something?

Not that I don't like it. Well maybe like is too strong a word. I admire the workmanship but as a design it doesn't grab me much to be honest. But then the Becksvoort didn't really grab me either, although of the two I'd rather have the Shaker 'cos it looks a more useful piece of furniture.

Cheers, Alf

*Remember, we don't have mistakes - we have Design Opportunities :wink:

And with both types of music a musician would spot the subtleties and mistakes as well.

regards.

 

[Alf]

Have you heard some modern "classical" music? You'd need the score in front of you if you didn't know the piece - it all sounds wrong. :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Chalk and cheese.

But woodworking would be quite boring if we all liked the same stuff :wink:

Paul

The very reason for the thread :wink:

Thanks for the piece Paul - the more I see it , the more it grows on me (somehow reminds me of a harpsichord)