Reader's Gallery

kumete

comments (6) October 29th, 2008 in Reader's Gallery

simon king simon king, member
thumbs up 14 users recommend
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A kumete (bowl) constructed using traditional pacific island joinery techniques. Sapele, beech, chestnut, tallow wood, sisal lashing.


Design or Plan used: My own design
posted in: Reader's Gallery, carving, bowl
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Comments (6)

leoffric leoffric writes: Nice work. So many of the pieces in this gallery are very designed and very finished and seem to come from somewhere else, which ,of course, they do.
As a 5th generation pakeha kiwi I am interested in what might NZ furniture look like?? The answers haven't been quick in coming, so I've thought its enough to just do what I do with eyes and ears open. Recently I thumbed through Betty Norbury's gorgeous book "bespoke", showing current british work. As I enjoyed it I thought "Is there any work in here that is similar to work I do?"
Well, yes, some pieces are.... so my work is connected to the western tradition
But also, no, there is nothing as simple, minimal, direct in its purpose as some of the work I do.
Your work is these things and more
Your work is quite raw.
Kumete touched me immediately

Posted: 12:50 pm on November 9th

simon king simon king writes: About 600 x 400 x 100mm
Posted: 1:02 am on November 4th

JasonT JasonT writes: how big is this dimensionally?
Posted: 9:52 pm on November 3rd

simon king simon king writes: Thanks for the positive comments.
I spent two years living in the Cook Islands teaching design and woodwork and during that time i became very interested in the traditions of wood joinery that evolved in the absence of metal. These traditions are most evident in the construction of buildings and canoes. Pieces of wood are generally shaped to fit together and lashed using a variety of techniques with coconut sennit. In some situations the lashing takes on a significant decorative role, particularly in the construction of public buildings and I found much evidence of this in Samoa. Apart from visiting museums to see examples of pacific island canoes, the Bishop Museum in Hawaii has a number of excellent publications showing details of canoe building techniques, though most are out of print. http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/press/web/quicksearch.asp
I am very busy preparing my students for their end of year assessments at the moment but I will post some more pictures and links in a couple of weeks.
Posted: 2:48 pm on October 31st

kevink kevink writes:
Simon -
This is a great piece. I'd love to see/read more about this technique. Please post more pics.

Thanks,
Kevin
Posted: 10:02 pm on October 30th

just wanted to know just wanted to know writes: That is cool.
Posted: 12:23 am on October 30th

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