For years this office never did anything round. We understood how difficult it was to design compelling round forms and how complex they are to build. However, these shapes and the elements of craftsmanship add to the texture of a space. The design for the Enkei table, embraces those more challenging nuances to create a very special piece for a two of our clients.
When making a round table from timber, it’s not as easy as gluing together sheets or blocks of timber together and cutting in a circle. Through the process of selecting the right material it became evident that the pieces needed to be cut into wedge shapes and that these needed to be built up in concentric circles. This required a totally different level of craftsmanship. We worked with the guys at Charles Sanford Woodturning who were able to bring together hundreds of wedges with a mirrored grain direction into a large circle, which was then turned by Charles himself. See the craftsman at work in a video of the process.
When the precision form was realised the accumulation of timber grain was almost like an intricate flower radiating around. While it was very difficult to make the call to cover the grain direction in a dark finish, it needed to be done to create a strong yet quiet piece that could sit comfortably in the rooms it was designed for. The motivation behind it was to create a piece that had a sense of time where it looks like its developed a patina over years like a Japanese door that is darker at the bottom because the water has accumulated there over time. We entrusted the remarkable timber creations to Ray at Hawthorne Furniture Polishers to achieve a look that is not only technically difficult but well into the spectrum of artistic. A dark stain fades across the curving surfaces highlighting the wood grain. The inky, uneven look of the ombre finish creates the illusion time. We say illusion, but that is exactly what it took – time. Ray and his team applied layer after layer of finish to achieve the subtlety of the fade which was followed by layer after layer of polishing. The care and patience of the master craftsman was essential to the process.
The tables were made as an edition of two – one for the clients at the Armadale Residence and one for a project that’s just finishing up. They have been very carefully rolled into place at both locations and are now being enjoyed by the clients.
