These stools began my experimenting with cleaving some 15years ago and are the purist functional application. Legs can be playful, but the seat is demanding upon selecting a log big enough to yield a wide board without a twisted profile. It is approximately one third of the tree’s diameter in width. Each one is guaranteed to be different, yet consistent in simple design. Matching legs and seat from carefully air-dried stock begins the making process.

Organic black dyes, bright synthetic dyes and carved details have all been used in different combinations. I work mostly with hand-guided tools to manage the irregular profiles, so familiar devises such as spoke-shaves give the finishing character with no sanding necessary.

Price range £350-£650

Creaking boxes with squeaky hinges make a good safe-house for valuables. Like a diminutive chest they follow the same ‘five-board’ principle and begin in size from about 25cm high. I spend a lot of time matching riven boards with subtle undulations to get a good balance, followed by careful scribing of joints and the final engineering of a wood hinge. The black finish here is application of gall-ink and emphasises form over grain.

Bigger chests show-off more wood character, but gobble up precious and bigger riven boards. The longer chests show-off the beautiful quartered pattern of medullary rays, over the surface of natural riven shapes. The longevity is exceptional on pegged constructions with this locally sourced oak. They all make good storage and strong enough to be an extra seat too.

Price range      Boxes from £450      Chests from £1,200

Unusual designs such as this ‘Lattice Stool’ make the most of surprising and beautiful shapes that emerge from within a tree. This stool has the oak’s medullary rays in abundance and a watery pierced carving adds to deepen the pictorial patterns. The carving can also be the structure as in architectural tradition and here the stool is stabilised by crossing the space with carved lattice.

More experimental designs are possible using the greater reliability of riven wood with the individual shapes leading ideas towards one-off pieces (or very small batches). A changing collection of these various furniture items are available for sale by contacting Adrian McCurdy on this website.