welcome

 examples

 method

 epilogue

 more work

'black stool'
20" x 20" x 13"

'creaking box'
16" x 17" x 10"

'tall ivy box'
38" x 21" x 12"

Curves and contours on this furniture are the result of splitting wood along the grain. This individuality is repeated in the infinite pattern of rays across the oak surface. Shaping of cleft wood is controlled by hand tools and the internal grain-direction of the tree. This material cannot be bought for my purpose, it has to be created.

Design begins at the earliest stage in choosing a suitable tree and splitting the butt. My ideas evolve and develop as the cleaving takes place. Each log up to four feet (1.2 metres) in length and the same wide, can take a month to process this way. This slow but exciting discovery is then put aside for about two years to season... Ideas left on hold and options open. In the last ten years I have split up about twenty logs by this method, each having its own surprise. It might be a problematic spiral-twist, or a lucky natural curve to fit your spine.

welcome | examples | method | epilogue | more work