For The Love Of Nature

Andy Dilley, contributor

30 users recommend

Over Head view shows the beatiful figure in the walnut top.

This Pic shows the base of the table  

Close up shot of the "roots" and the "rock"

Close up of the branches supporting the top.

Over Head view shows the beatiful figure in the walnut top.

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This end table is made of Hi-figured Black Walnut, Mahogany, & Zebrawood. My inspiration was my client and her love of nature. I made the roots and branches by cutting a series of compound miters and using floating tenon joinery. Following a tedious glue-up I sculpted the piece to flow smoothly just as a tree.

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Comments (8)

penz writes: Great job! What kind
of finish did you Use?
Posted: 10:23 pm on August 21st

ectablesaw writes: The most creative design submitted so far. Took a very creative mind to design this table. An beautiful use of natural beauty.
Posted: 12:23 pm on July 8th

ectablesaw writes: The most creative table submitted. An absolutly beautiful natural design. What a creative mind.
Posted: 12:20 pm on July 8th

jimbell writes: I love the base.

This table competition, of course, will not select the 'best' table. The salient thing that a viewer might get out of this competition is to clarify what, in his or her estimation, makes a fine piece of furniture. Often we sort of think we know what we believe, but when we force ourselves to decide among a dozen excellent pieces, we see much more clearly what we really value.

I have realized that what I value most would never win a competition such as this. A simple, functional design that lets the wood speak for itself. Don't get me wrong: I love artsy and creative. Why else did I voluntarily take Oil Painting 101 and then visit major art galleries around the world: Van Gogh on tour in Auckland was a highlight, but so was the Van Gogh gallery in Amsterdam, but so were the sculptures in Rome, not to mention the architectural extravagance in Istanbul and the new museum in Shanghai. But, when "you put a gun to my head" and ask me to vote, I go for function. For simplicity. For letting the wood do its thing.

I am putting the final coats on a trestle table that is so simple, so simple that my woodworking buddy recommended 20 years ago that I do it as my first project becaue I didn't know anything. Finally, I have done it, and, except for it being nearly an inch too high, I love it. The wild and crappy ash I used melds into a dynamic top (after I dealt with the cupping). I did nothing to the top except a 3/4 inch curve on both sides and a 1/2" round over. There is not a fancy piece of furniture making on the table except the through tenons on the legs which are wedged with 1/4" piece of walnut.

I completely accept that other people will have other criteria--for example, complexity, or hours of work, or faithfulness to tradition, or marketability, and so on. But the real benefit of a competition such as this is to press us to clarify what we as individual furniture makers value most.
Posted: 4:25 am on July 2nd

Dusty9 writes: got a great beat,,easy to dance to-i give it a 97

Posted: 3:45 am on June 28th

KRASSEL writes: Outstanding! Looks like Mother Nature made it. Great job. Love the contrast's of form and color.
Posted: 11:16 am on June 20th

jheller writes: In my opinion the most original piece submitted to date. Great job it looks fantastic yet still practical.
Posted: 4:53 pm on June 11th

Aphyosemion writes: Wow, very nice. I'll bet she was really happy with the work.
Posted: 2:37 pm on June 11th

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