Interesting pieces of furniture - 7

[Roger]

Beautiful wood and veneer use - although I'm always a big fan of Maple.

The top and 'Shadow' effect is very nice, but then the big black pedestal throws the whole thing off. The handles appear totally out of place. Overall it's too bland for me and doesn't inspire any desire to touch or examine it other than to see details of construction.

 

[Chris Knight]

Alf,
I think a matching pair would look OK either side of the doorway?

 

[AndyBoyd]

Like the rest I feel the piece is exceptionally well made but the veneer just shouts too much for European eyes.

I''d have toned down the veener for the drawer fronts and see if that helped.

I have an Art Deco styled house and even in that it would be a little too much.

 

[Alf]

Alf,
I think a matching pair would look OK either side of the doorway?[/img]

Hmm, s'okay at a distance but I think the figure'd be a tad overwhelming close to. Just have to get the butler to stand in front of 'em all the time or something I suppose :lol:

Cheers, Alf

 

[woodbloke]

Alf wrote:

Just have to get the butler to stand in front of 'em all the time or something I suppose

Alf.....you mean one's man, I fancy :lol: - Rob

 

[Alf]

No, no - one's man is putting the 8ft boards in the Bentley :roll: :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

I'm generalizing a little bit here, but I don't get it, so far 7 pieces of furniture have been posted, and most of the comments about design have been very negative.

Yet when ever someone posts their own piece on the projects site, the comments are invariable unbelievable positive, virtually no negative comments.

If your going to criticize these pieces then people should also criticize forum members work, or is it bad form to make similar remarks about forum members work / amateurs work etc?

Please feel free to critisize my work, next time.

 

[wrightclan]

I'm generalizing a little bit here, but I don't get it, so far 7 pieces of furniture have been posted, and most of the comments about design have been very negative.

Yet when ever someone posts their own piece on the projects site, the comments are invariable unbelievable positive, virtually no negative comments.

If your going to criticize these pieces then people should also criticize forum members work, or is it bad form to make similar remarks about forum members work / amateurs work etc?

Please feel free to critisize my work, next time.

Honestly Senior? I do very much like your work. I don't like much of what has been posted in these "Interesting Pieces" threads. That's not just an etiquette thing, it's the honest truth.

I for one, have mildly criticised (for lack of a better word) one or two forum members' pieces, by saying something such as "not to my taste," etc. But I do try to compliment them on attention to detail, etc.

Brad

Edit for spelling.

 

[andycktm]

keep in line senior ,keep in line............ :lol:

 

[DomValente]

But don't you think that with the appropriate handles and maybe a less clunky pedestal this item would fit in at Burgh Island or the Midland Hotel in Morecambe (both Art Deco icons)?

Oddly enough as I was scrolling through re-reading the posts I took another look at the picture and decided the handles were right for the piece. Yes it would look perfect in the Midland(hope they've cleaned the place up since I was there) I just don't want that b*****y colour anywhere near where I'm sleeping.


Dom

 

[DomValente]

A restaurant owner I knew once said if Margaret Thatcher ever came to his restaurant he would personally poison her food.
She did visit his restaurant, I am reliably informed that he now holds the world Brown Nose record.

Dom

 

[Paul Chapman]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

I'm generalizing a little bit here, but I don't get it, so far 7 pieces of furniture have been posted, and most of the comments about design have been very negative.

Yet when ever someone posts their own piece on the projects site, the comments are invariable unbelievable positive, virtually no negative comments.

If your going to criticize these pieces then people should also criticize forum members work, or is it bad form to make similar remarks about forum members work / amateurs work etc?

Please feel free to criticise my work, next time.

Senior, I think people are praising the efforts of amateurs more readily than professionals as the level of skill, equipment and time is very different. Praise is given to forum members (who we generally 'know'), rather than their actual furniture in many cases, whereas with the pieces on these threads, the praise or criticism is for the furniture itself with no regard to the maker.

For memebrs, we praise their efforts and developing skills - for the pros in these threads, the skill is undoubted, it is the end result that is considered

Also, the pieces in these threads are very different to member's pieces, often being very ornate or innvative or attempting to 'push the boundaries' and so not to everyone's taste.

Any comments I make in the threads are what I truly feel about the pieces, and most of those I have posted in these threads would not be considered by me for my house or as prospective projects

 

[woodbloke]

I sympathize with Seniors view somewhat on this one in that positive and negative criticism are both valid when we appraise other forum members work....but negative criticism, in my view should only be offered in a very tactful way and only then with additional comments where you feel the peice or the forum maker's skill could be improved for maybe the next project. Case in point was Jez's demi-lune table of a while ago where I was offering positive suggestions to make the table easier to make and (in my view anyway) to improve the overall appearance, which is individually subjective anyway.
For my own work at least, I would welcome positive and negative comments, provided that they can be backed up with sound feedback so that my skills and abilities can move on. So, if anyone doesn't like my stuff, please feel free to express your views, but only if they can be justified.
This is a tricky one to cover, but it's a personal view I'm offering and of course others may feel entirely differently - Rob

 

[Paul Chapman]

I agree broadly with Tony and Rob. If you're a self-taught, hobby woodworker, possibly still struggling with techniques and methods, let alone design, it takes courage to post pictures of work, warts and all. I think we are all conscious of this and tailor our comments taking into account our knowledge of the member and his/her level of ability/experience. I've found it difficult to be critical of your work, Senior - all of it that I've seen has been up there with the best :wink:

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Dad]

I like the overall design of it, but then I do like some art deco. Fits superbly in the setting too. Having said that, the 'quilting' is not particularly to my taste - a 'plainer' timber would have looked better to me.

 

[Lord Nibbo]

I'm generalizing a little bit here, but I don't get it, so far 7 pieces of furniture have been posted, and most of the comments about design have been very negative.

Yet when ever someone posts their own piece on the projects site, the comments are invariable unbelievable positive, virtually no negative comments.

If your going to criticize these pieces then people should also criticize forum members work, or is it bad form to make similar remarks about forum members work / amateurs work etc?

Please feel free to critisize my work, next time.

With this series the question was about design, I repeat design, it is exactly that I am being critical about certainly not the workmanship. It is quite obvious that the workmanship is superb on all the pieces we have seen so far. When ever a newbie or even a regular posts a project I'm not looking at the design but the workmanship used to create the project and as yet I have not seen anything posted by anyone that I would not have been proud to say "I made it" again everyones taste will differ as to design but on the whole I will say again the workmanship shown by forum members has been awsome. \/

 

[MrJay]

Someone's got more money than taste. For me it's also the choice of showy woods that ruin an otherwise really nice box.

 

[MikeW]

...Sorry resident saw-maker - but I reckon you could do better yourself.

Well, actually when I submitted this and another, I made no judgement about them at all.

When a follow-up PM was made, I said:

The buffet I perhaps like because I have made a wine cabinet of similar design--but back when I took few pictures and didn't have a professional shoot them. Pity as 99% of my work is unrecorded. But again, the use of Maple as a wood selection is not one I would choose.

So while I like--nearly love--curved ends and/or bow fronts as something to make, I don't necessarily like the combination of the elements which make up this piece.

First, I don't overly like figured Maple--and especially this much of it. I do like the base. I would rather the piece was shorter. I do like the edge treatment of the top in general, but I wouldn't have thinned it as much at the corners and on to the back. I do like the tonal qualities of the dyed Maple and even like the shape of the pulls.

I don't like the drawer divisions--I would have had carried the drawer fronts down to hide the web/dust frames. I think the way it is presents too many straight lines on this piece and drawers the eyes to it while the mind sees all the curves. A tad jarring or out of place those straight lines are to me.

Take care, Mike

now I will go on record as saying I like the other piece...<g>

 

[greybeard]

Ho hum - relieved that it's not just me that was feeling as if none of the "interesting pieces" would ever be welcomed, or at least only by an occasional fan!

Having said that I have liked one of them!

And yes I agree with one and all about the huge differences between forum members postings and this kind of work - IMH and humble O probably one of the most constructive and positive things this forum can achieve is to encourage one and all that greater successes are just ahead, round the corner etc etc. I know from other walks of life that it is very easy to get dispirited when working alone, and hobby workers have their down and dark shed days too!
But an atmosphere of healthy, focussed, sound, often very very knowing, and above all honest critiquing is a joy to share in and be part of - long may it continue!
Not least until I convince myself to put up a piece for comment!!

Anyhow, back to this interesting piece - love the wood figuring, some good contrast ideas too, but definitely not my cup of tea.