Mission Style Pedestal

This piece of furniture was meant to support a heavy sculpture.  Since I had been renovating an old house from the fifties, I was able to use some of the wooden shelves which had composed the in-built library that I was replacing.  In addition, I had thin mahogany stripes which remained from my chair project.  As I was considering the various types woods, I thought that the mahogany would contrast beautifully with the alder, and thus bring out the beauty of both woods.

Another contrast which I wanted to feature was the weight of the sculpture versus the apparent lightness of the pedestal.  Thus, in addition to the beams, I decided to create a layer in such a way that the surface appeared to be carried by four delicate mahogany marbles.  The concept was set in my mind, but I soon found out that ending up with four perfectly round and equal marbles using the lathe required making eleven, many of which broke because of their small size and the dryness of the wood.  Of course, I could have purchased finished wooden marbles and put a pin in the center of them, but there is no challenge, craftsmanship or learning in that process.

For as delicate as each piece was to make, the final structure is very sturdy, and it could withstand the heavy sculpture with grace and without any difficulty.

All my work at the Cleveland Institute of Art and Design has been key to my understanding the details and care that are necessary to achieve the results we are looking for.  As a designer, I make it a point to work with the craftsmen: I enjoy the interaction, and I consider it as part of my work to facilitate theirs.