Reader Lounge

70″x29″x39″ mahogany and vinyl leather

A large chaise lounge with an exposed mahogany frame and upholstery by my friend Molly Whittaker.

Besides seating one happy reader, the long flat cushion can also seat two or three comfortably.

A view from the back shows some exposed tenons, drawbores, and generally lovely woodgrain.

Arab Spring #2

13″x14″x21″  cherry, bleached alder, cocobolo, latex paint, and white wax

The “Arab Spring” series incorporates Egyptian geometries and grafitti-inspired calligraphy, allowing me to experiment with more relief work on the CNC router. I was so happy with my original three-drawer piece  that I decided to make another with a few changes: cherry wood and bleach to lighten the overall effect and a bottom shelf for magazines.

“Arab Spring #2”, cherry, bleached alder, cocobolo, latex paint, and white wax

Moving clockwise around the box, the calligraphy spells out the words “Arab Spring” in Arabic.

I had an idea that the entire drawers, not just the drawer fronts, could become part of the design if they were housed in a frame rather than a box.

In this close-up, you can see the intricate relief carving which wraps all the way around the back of the box.

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Mamluk Box

20″14″x9″, walnut, wenge, tamo ash, and upholstery

This large two-tiered jewelry box displays latticework based on that found in a Mamluk mosque in Cairo dating from the 13th century.

“Mamluk Box” 20″x14″x9″, walnut, wenge, tamo ash, and upholstery

The upper balcony is upholstered to hold rings and earrings, the lower for bracelets and brooches.

Walnut, walnut burl, and wenge produce subtle dark contrasts.

Each tiny piece of the walnut and wenge lattice was handcut to fit.

Maori Lamp

11″x17″x33″, walnut and antique milk glass

The reef-like sculptural quality of this large table lamp was inspired by the carved prow of a Maori canoe.

“Maori Lamp”

From the other side, a different pattern emerges.

Floating Light Box

19″x5″x18″, walnut and acrylic shoji paper

The diffuse light of this table lamp is reminiscent of dawn seen through Japanese shoji.

The natural rounded edge of the polished walnut balances the cantilevered rectangle of light.

A close-up of rounded handcut dovetail and base.

Dragon Coffee Table

56″x22″x18″, Carolina cherry and mahogany

This sculptural table balances natural and rectilinear elements with a cantilevered structure.

The balance of natural and straight lines here is very much inspired by the work of George Nakashima.

Carolina cherry is a very rare wood to find in lumber stores; this piece came from a down tree through the Urban Lumber Recovery Program.

A rectangle adds surprise to the natural edges of the top.