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Like many of the pre-industrial
pioneers of the woodcraft tradition, I chose to work wood because
of the independent way of life it offered. Materials can be gathered
and processed by the maker. Craft work and the craft life could be
said to be a moral activity and I believe that making a piece of furniture
for a person implies a moral contract. The piece must serve a purpose
well, and also last a lifetime. In past centuries this was the furniture
maker's obligation to their client. The best craftsmen shared a common
principal - truth to materials. They were respectful of materials,
understood their preciousness and presented them with a level of grace.
As a contemporary furniture maker, I endeavour to carry on these principles
in my work. |
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Good design is essential
in producing furniture that is not copied or reproduced. The Modernists
of the early 20th century realized this when they began looking for
alternative approaches to furniture production. Aesthetics, intellectual
content and functionality were all considered with equal importance.
Like the pioneers of the Modernist movement, I am aware of the importance
of design principles in the production of a new project. My tertiary
qualifications are in design and I have spent 15 years running my
own design practice. I have learnt that good design is vital to achieving
success as a furniture maker. Good design ensures that the object
functions as it should, has a level of meaning, is aesthetically pleasing
to the client, is structurally sound, comes in on budget and is completed
on time. |
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