Bruce Schuettinger
Works & Biography
21st Century Functional Art Furniture
Form follows function – that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union.
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT, ARCHITECT & INTERIOR DESIGNER
Bruce M. Schuettinger (Born April 15th, 1955) is a contemporary functional furniture artist and designer featuring abstract patterns and flare that has been popular for decades. Pieces that blend color and unusual shapes to create elegant and functional items. He specializes in both, modern and contemporary furniture that focuses on abstract designs. Bruce M. Schuettinger went to college to study abstract painting, studio furniture, and color theory. He was awarded “best of show” in sculpture for a chair that he designed in 1978. He been shown in many countries.
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Bruce Schuettinger, “20/20”, Coffee Table/Bench, 2017, 68” length, 17.75”width, 19” tall, $19,000 Materials: Locally naturally downed walnut (Juglans nigra) book-matched boards, Richlite Black Diamond made from 100% recycled FSA grade paper, Imitation Gold Leaf, Oil Sizing, and traditional natural resin oil varnish. |
Construction: Highly figured solid walnut for the boards forming the top in an elongated book match arrangement. The two boards forming the top are joined with blind tenons. The Black Diamond Richlite panels forms the three vertical supports are both through tenon and tongue and groove joined to the top. The Black Diamond Richlite panel forming the cross stretcher is joined to the legs with 3 slotted/dado joints. The Black Diamond Richlite panels and cross brace are shaped and carved interpreting tree branches, trunks, and bark formations and are gilded with a patinated gold toned metal leaf. The table is coated with 7 layers of a traditional natural resin oil based varnish and polished.
Philosophy: Designed to be extremely functional while maximizing the beauty that these two walnut boards poses and to place them in a non-typical book matched orientation. Combining real wood with Black Diamond Richlite panels, which are constructed from 100% recycled FSA certified paper, is our way of acknowledging how important trees are to our world and that all forms of their gift to us should be recognized and utilized to its fullest. The carving on the supports and cross stretcher are an abstracted representation of the shape of trunks and branches as well as the various forms of bark. I used gold toned metal leaf that has been patinated to be multicolored to symbolize the importance of trees to the earth, but also to its human inhabitants. The combination of the wood, which is from a naturally downed tree that we had milled and dried and the Black Diamond Richlite used in the construction of the piece, is considered to follow LEED Gold or Silver Building Practices, Green Practices, and Best Practices.
Exhibitions: The coffee table has its debut at the Baltimore Fine Craft Show, which is part of the Baltimore Art and Antiques Show.
Effort: The layout and fabrication of this table required 110.5 hours to complete.
Meaning or Importance of Material: Black walnut is considered a “masculine” tree but does have some feminine properties as well as being associated with the element of fire and the sun. Culpepper, in his Complete Herbal, writes, “This is a plant of the sun. It is associated with the Gods Vashaan, Zeus, Jupiter, Thor, and Vishnu. Black walnut is a symbol of confidence and mental wisdom as well as having medicinal properties that are useful in the prevention and treatment of disease. Mentally, the wood has been suggested to project properties directly in line with the expelling suggested by the doctrine of signatures and other sources. It has also been tied to infertility and heath wishes. Trees are living beings with great power and energy. Native Americans, often referred to trees as the “Standing People.” Each variety of tree has special gift and lesson to share with humankind. Even long after a tree has been cut down and processed to make furniture; it still retains some of its vibrational energy. The lessons of the trees live on among the wood furnishings in our homes.
Philosophy: Designed to be extremely functional while maximizing the beauty that these two walnut boards poses and to place them in a non-typical book matched orientation. Combining real wood with Black Diamond Richlite panels, which are constructed from 100% recycled FSA certified paper, is our way of acknowledging how important trees are to our world and that all forms of their gift to us should be recognized and utilized to its fullest. The carving on the supports and cross stretcher are an abstracted representation of the shape of trunks and branches as well as the various forms of bark. I used gold toned metal leaf that has been patinated to be multicolored to symbolize the importance of trees to the earth, but also to its human inhabitants. The combination of the wood, which is from a naturally downed tree that we had milled and dried and the Black Diamond Richlite used in the construction of the piece, is considered to follow LEED Gold or Silver Building Practices, Green Practices, and Best Practices.
Exhibitions: The coffee table has its debut at the Baltimore Fine Craft Show, which is part of the Baltimore Art and Antiques Show.
Effort: The layout and fabrication of this table required 110.5 hours to complete.
Meaning or Importance of Material: Black walnut is considered a “masculine” tree but does have some feminine properties as well as being associated with the element of fire and the sun. Culpepper, in his Complete Herbal, writes, “This is a plant of the sun. It is associated with the Gods Vashaan, Zeus, Jupiter, Thor, and Vishnu. Black walnut is a symbol of confidence and mental wisdom as well as having medicinal properties that are useful in the prevention and treatment of disease. Mentally, the wood has been suggested to project properties directly in line with the expelling suggested by the doctrine of signatures and other sources. It has also been tied to infertility and heath wishes. Trees are living beings with great power and energy. Native Americans, often referred to trees as the “Standing People.” Each variety of tree has special gift and lesson to share with humankind. Even long after a tree has been cut down and processed to make furniture; it still retains some of its vibrational energy. The lessons of the trees live on among the wood furnishings in our homes.
Bruce Schuettinger, A Coming Together, 2016, Dining Table, Length 92” x Width 48” x height 29.75”. $35,000
Materials: 54 different species and figure of wood from over 20 countries.
Construction: Hand cut dovetails in our signature pattern to attach the pedestal frames, lap dovetails to secure the two support stretchers, blind mortise and tenons to secure the medial support, Dados for alignment of the center brace, tongue and groove joints for the skirt cap, and wood screws to secure the top to the trestle stile frame. All the joints were secured with fish glue. The custom cut 1/8th” veneer was cut from “old stock” fragments and small boards which we have collected for over 30 years and were secured with fish glue to a Plyboo substrate, which has been veneered on its underside.
Materials: 54 different species and figure of wood from over 20 countries.
Construction: Hand cut dovetails in our signature pattern to attach the pedestal frames, lap dovetails to secure the two support stretchers, blind mortise and tenons to secure the medial support, Dados for alignment of the center brace, tongue and groove joints for the skirt cap, and wood screws to secure the top to the trestle stile frame. All the joints were secured with fish glue. The custom cut 1/8th” veneer was cut from “old stock” fragments and small boards which we have collected for over 30 years and were secured with fish glue to a Plyboo substrate, which has been veneered on its underside.
Philosophy: This dinning table is designed to be a very functional piece of art work with its decoration commemorating the Neo-Plasticism Movement and a sub movement arising out of Holland in the 1918 time period known as De Stijl and one of its members, Piet Mondrian, with his recognizable combination of primary colored squares and rectangles, separated by horizontal and vertical lines. The use of the large number of wood species and grain patterns from over 20 counties with different cultures and languages, symbolizes for us, the coming together of the different family members and friends over time to share a common meal in hopes that the table will be a unifying piece of functional art. The use of “old stock” wood, Plyboo, moderately low VOC coatings and low VOC, and our electricity is supplied via photovoltaic solar panels all follows LEED Platinum, Gold, and Silver Certifications guidelines, Green Practices, and Best Practices. We utilize all of the wood fragments in our work that may lie on a machine or bench top or floor ensuring there is no waste. The woods are placed into bins based on their color and size and are used as an artist places paints on the pallet.
Bruce Schuettinger, Angular Tension, 2018, Two Door Side Cabinet, Side to Side 36”, Front to Back 18”, Height 29.25”, $36,000
Materials: All old stock Honduran mahogany, mahogany veneer core plywood, Richlite Black Diamond made from 100% FSA certified recycled paper, 23 karate, 23 karat red, 22 karat surface, 22 karat deep, 22 karat French Pale, 22 Karat Moon, 18 karat lemon, palladium, silver, aluminum, imitation gold Italian, faux gold variegated, Tamise.
Construction: Solid Mahogany and Mahogany plywood frame and panel case with plywood abstract shaped boxes oil gilded with 13 varieties of metal leaf.
Philosophy: I designed this cabinet to be of moderate size for multiple placement within a home or office with additional functionality an adjustable shelf and two drawers. We also wanted the construction to relate to the highest level of traditional craftsmanship. From an artistic perspective, we wanted the sides and front of the cabinet to be a single interactive flowing sculptural element. We were initially inspired by the work of Paul Evans and his “City Scape series, but we wanted to take his work to a new level by emphasizing the interactive complexity between the 3, 4, and 5 sided boxes and the importance of the blacked out negative space between them. We further developed the connectivity amongst these boxes by applying various shades of gold, palladium, silver, aluminum and variegated imitation gold leaf as well as Tamise. Essentially, we were painting with the application of the metal leaves and its further decoration, utilizing various colors and black in a layered fashion similar to the layers of paint that Jackson Pollack, Mark Rothko and Willem de Kooning would use in their work.
Materials: All old stock Honduran mahogany, mahogany veneer core plywood, Richlite Black Diamond made from 100% FSA certified recycled paper, 23 karate, 23 karat red, 22 karat surface, 22 karat deep, 22 karat French Pale, 22 Karat Moon, 18 karat lemon, palladium, silver, aluminum, imitation gold Italian, faux gold variegated, Tamise.
Construction: Solid Mahogany and Mahogany plywood frame and panel case with plywood abstract shaped boxes oil gilded with 13 varieties of metal leaf.
Philosophy: I designed this cabinet to be of moderate size for multiple placement within a home or office with additional functionality an adjustable shelf and two drawers. We also wanted the construction to relate to the highest level of traditional craftsmanship. From an artistic perspective, we wanted the sides and front of the cabinet to be a single interactive flowing sculptural element. We were initially inspired by the work of Paul Evans and his “City Scape series, but we wanted to take his work to a new level by emphasizing the interactive complexity between the 3, 4, and 5 sided boxes and the importance of the blacked out negative space between them. We further developed the connectivity amongst these boxes by applying various shades of gold, palladium, silver, aluminum and variegated imitation gold leaf as well as Tamise. Essentially, we were painting with the application of the metal leaves and its further decoration, utilizing various colors and black in a layered fashion similar to the layers of paint that Jackson Pollack, Mark Rothko and Willem de Kooning would use in their work.
Bruce Schuettinger, Convergence. 2017, Center Table, Center table 40.5” diameter and 30.5” high, $24,000
Materials: All old stock domestic and imported woods, Richlite Black Diamond made from 100% FSA certified recycled paper, Plyboo, Birch veneer plywood, Macassar Ebony, Vermillion, quilted Makore, pure silver leaf, oil sizing, rare earth magnets, fish glue, and moderately low VOC conversion varnish.
Construction: Hand cut diagonal dados reinforced with blind tenons for the vertical and diagonal base elements, stainless steel support plate joined to the top and vertical supports with screws and bolts. The diagonal element that has a separate removable piece attached to the top with inset rare earth magnets is gilded with pure silver leaf and oil sizing. The entire table is coated with 8 layers of a moderately low VOC conversion varnish and hand rubbed to a high gloss.
Philosophy: I designed this table to function as a center table while creating an Abstract Expressionistic sculpture reminiscent of the works of Mark di Suvero and David Smith as well as some of the paintings of Willem de Kooning. The use of the contrasting colored woods represent paint colors used by painters of the period; while the silver leaf represents the aluminum so often associated with Abstract Expressionistic sculptures of the period. The use of “Old Stock” exotic imported woods in the construction of the piece in combination with the use of Richlite Black Diamond and the Plyboo panels and that all of the power for our shop is supplied by photovoltaic cell (Solar) panels. These facts all contribute to this piece qualifying for Leed Platinum Building Practices, Green Practices, and Best Practices.
Exhibitions: The center table had its debut at the Baltimore Fine Craft Show, which is part of the Baltimore Fine Art and Antiques Show in September 2017 and Bold Summit Conference in Chicago in September 2017.
Effort: The Design, layout and fabrication of this table required 205 hours to complete.
Meaning or Importance of Material: Silver is the metal associated with the moon. It is a reflective material, which is used to mirror the soul and bring a person to a calming and balanced state. In native cultures it was also used to connect to the powers of the moon in lunar ceremonies. It is a protective metal associated with the protection from negative energies. Macassar Ebony is associated with all five elements; Fire, Water, Earth, Air, and Spirit. It is noted for its magical property to invoke change, balance, and good luck. The well-known writer, Scott Cunningham, states: "Ebony wood is protective and so is used in making amulets and wands giving the magician pure, unadulterated power." This wood may be used by those seeking spiritual knowledge and exploring intuition and emotion. It has also been associated with healing powers. Makore is a powerful wood that receives its power from the elements for fire and earth and can be used to improve life. Padauk or Vermilion as it is often known is gain a powerfully energetic wood that possess strong healing energies. Trees are living beings with great power and energy. Native Americans, often referred to trees as the “Standing People.” Each variety of tree has special gift and lesson to share with humankind. Even long after a tree has been cut down and processed to make furniture; it still retains some of its vibrational energy. The lessons of the trees live on among the wood furnishings in our homes.
Materials: All old stock domestic and imported woods, Richlite Black Diamond made from 100% FSA certified recycled paper, Plyboo, Birch veneer plywood, Macassar Ebony, Vermillion, quilted Makore, pure silver leaf, oil sizing, rare earth magnets, fish glue, and moderately low VOC conversion varnish.
Construction: Hand cut diagonal dados reinforced with blind tenons for the vertical and diagonal base elements, stainless steel support plate joined to the top and vertical supports with screws and bolts. The diagonal element that has a separate removable piece attached to the top with inset rare earth magnets is gilded with pure silver leaf and oil sizing. The entire table is coated with 8 layers of a moderately low VOC conversion varnish and hand rubbed to a high gloss.
Philosophy: I designed this table to function as a center table while creating an Abstract Expressionistic sculpture reminiscent of the works of Mark di Suvero and David Smith as well as some of the paintings of Willem de Kooning. The use of the contrasting colored woods represent paint colors used by painters of the period; while the silver leaf represents the aluminum so often associated with Abstract Expressionistic sculptures of the period. The use of “Old Stock” exotic imported woods in the construction of the piece in combination with the use of Richlite Black Diamond and the Plyboo panels and that all of the power for our shop is supplied by photovoltaic cell (Solar) panels. These facts all contribute to this piece qualifying for Leed Platinum Building Practices, Green Practices, and Best Practices.
Exhibitions: The center table had its debut at the Baltimore Fine Craft Show, which is part of the Baltimore Fine Art and Antiques Show in September 2017 and Bold Summit Conference in Chicago in September 2017.
Effort: The Design, layout and fabrication of this table required 205 hours to complete.
Meaning or Importance of Material: Silver is the metal associated with the moon. It is a reflective material, which is used to mirror the soul and bring a person to a calming and balanced state. In native cultures it was also used to connect to the powers of the moon in lunar ceremonies. It is a protective metal associated with the protection from negative energies. Macassar Ebony is associated with all five elements; Fire, Water, Earth, Air, and Spirit. It is noted for its magical property to invoke change, balance, and good luck. The well-known writer, Scott Cunningham, states: "Ebony wood is protective and so is used in making amulets and wands giving the magician pure, unadulterated power." This wood may be used by those seeking spiritual knowledge and exploring intuition and emotion. It has also been associated with healing powers. Makore is a powerful wood that receives its power from the elements for fire and earth and can be used to improve life. Padauk or Vermilion as it is often known is gain a powerfully energetic wood that possess strong healing energies. Trees are living beings with great power and energy. Native Americans, often referred to trees as the “Standing People.” Each variety of tree has special gift and lesson to share with humankind. Even long after a tree has been cut down and processed to make furniture; it still retains some of its vibrational energy. The lessons of the trees live on among the wood furnishings in our homes.
Bruce Schuettinger, De Stijl Mondrian’s Work, Nested Tables, 2016, Length 25.5 ”x Width 17.5 ” x Height 25.625” Length 21.25 ”x Width 15.5 ” x Height 24.625” Length 17.25 ”x Width 13.5 ” x Height 23.625”, $9,000 - Set of 3.
Materials: Table frame, Tiger Maple; Mosaic pieces 50 different species and figures of wood from over 18 countries: American Black Walnut plain, mottled, and crotch, American Cherry, Amboynia Burl, Andrioba Crabwood, Aromatic Red Cedar, Ash Burl, Bloodwood, Bocote, Brazilian Cherry, Bubinga plain sliced and mottled, Canarywood, Chakle Viga, Chechen, Cypress, Cocobolo, English Walnut, Goncalo Alves, Kingwood, Koa, Macassar Ebony, Mahogany African and Santo Domingo, Maple figured, Marblewood, New Guinea Walnut, Olivewood, Osage Orange, Padauk, Pearwood, Pink ivory, Purpleheart, Redheart, Red Mallee burl, Rosewood East Indian Brazilian, and Honduran, Satinwood- Ceylon and Brazilian; Sycamore quartersawn, Teak, Tulipwood, Wenge, Vermilion, Zebrawood, and Ziricote.
Construction: Hand cut lapped dovetails for the rear stretcher and finger joints for the stiles and rails of the three table frames. All the joints were secured with fish glue. The custom cut 1/8th” veneer was cut from “old stock” fragments and small boards, which we have collected for over 30 years or were purchased from old collections thereby not promoting the cutting down of live endangered trees.
Philosophy: We designed the group of nested tables to be a functional groups of tables which could be used in multiple rooms and room settings. The decoration of the tables was inspired by the Abstract Expressionism and Neo-Plasticism movements of the 20th century. The use of “old stock” wood, Plyboo, and moderately low VOC coatings and adhesives as well as our electrical power is generated via photovoltaic cells is considered to follow LEED Platinum Certifications and to be in keeping with Green Practices, and Best Practices.
Exhibitions: The nested tables debuted at a fine art Gallery in Colorado, AD 20/21 Show Boston Massachusetts 2017, ArtExpo New York City 2017, and Baltimore Fine Craft Show 2017.
Effort: The layout and fabrication of the nested tables required 115 hours to complete and approximately 20 square feet of American Hard Maple and approximately 7 square feet of custom cut 1/8th” veneer.
Meaning or Importance of Material: The meaning of the various woods used varies within the communities and cultures where the trees grow and are harvested. Many of the exotic woods have been revered for their figured grain and color by furniture makers for hundreds of years. As a few examples, figured maple and American Black Walnut have been used in the production of both urban and rural furniture for nearly 400 years and have been revered for their strength, color, and figure. Walnut has been associated with our ability to use our minds clearly and become focused. It has also been associated with the human breath as well as having been used for the maintenance of health and disease prevention. Maple has been associated with giving of ourselves to others and is considered the tree of offering by Native American cultures. Maple is a fascinating a beautiful wood due largely to the great deal of variation in its appearance. Some maple wood is without any interesting grain, while some has an amazing wavy (called "curly") appearance with remarkable translucence. And some maple is known as "Bird's Eye" maple because it has tiny little spots in the grain, like miniature knotholes, throughout the wood. And still other maple is "spalted," or crossed with very dark lines within the grain. It is sometimes hard to tell that all of these woods come from the same type of tree. Maple is one of the most spiritual woods in existence. Because of this, the primary use of the wood is that of spiritual healing. It is also amazing when working with moon magic. Maple is a traveler's wood. Those who are always on the move and changing will feel right at home with this type of energy. It allows a person to focus in on the choices in any situation, eliminating luck and chance. Juniper holds powers of protection, healing, strength, love and peace.
The following information is from Touch Wood Rings and Wikipedia: The energies of rosewood are primarily feminine and are focused on the spiritual and institutive health and beauty. It is often used to assist one in spiritual healing and has been hugely prized for thousands of years by a myriad of cultures. Purple heart is a spiritual wood, often associated with the feminine. It enhances energy dealing with creativity and knowledge. One of the best woods when dealing with spiritual healing and health issues, purple heart would be especially useful in eradicating the negative energies that create strife in the home and workplace. The color purple has for centuries been associated with royalty and power and is the color of the crown chakra that represents transformation, creativity, spirituality, and spiritual awareness. Padauk or Vermilion was chosen for the bright color red which symbolizes power, good fortune, and is the color of the root chakra.
Materials: Table frame, Tiger Maple; Mosaic pieces 50 different species and figures of wood from over 18 countries: American Black Walnut plain, mottled, and crotch, American Cherry, Amboynia Burl, Andrioba Crabwood, Aromatic Red Cedar, Ash Burl, Bloodwood, Bocote, Brazilian Cherry, Bubinga plain sliced and mottled, Canarywood, Chakle Viga, Chechen, Cypress, Cocobolo, English Walnut, Goncalo Alves, Kingwood, Koa, Macassar Ebony, Mahogany African and Santo Domingo, Maple figured, Marblewood, New Guinea Walnut, Olivewood, Osage Orange, Padauk, Pearwood, Pink ivory, Purpleheart, Redheart, Red Mallee burl, Rosewood East Indian Brazilian, and Honduran, Satinwood- Ceylon and Brazilian; Sycamore quartersawn, Teak, Tulipwood, Wenge, Vermilion, Zebrawood, and Ziricote.
Construction: Hand cut lapped dovetails for the rear stretcher and finger joints for the stiles and rails of the three table frames. All the joints were secured with fish glue. The custom cut 1/8th” veneer was cut from “old stock” fragments and small boards, which we have collected for over 30 years or were purchased from old collections thereby not promoting the cutting down of live endangered trees.
Philosophy: We designed the group of nested tables to be a functional groups of tables which could be used in multiple rooms and room settings. The decoration of the tables was inspired by the Abstract Expressionism and Neo-Plasticism movements of the 20th century. The use of “old stock” wood, Plyboo, and moderately low VOC coatings and adhesives as well as our electrical power is generated via photovoltaic cells is considered to follow LEED Platinum Certifications and to be in keeping with Green Practices, and Best Practices.
Exhibitions: The nested tables debuted at a fine art Gallery in Colorado, AD 20/21 Show Boston Massachusetts 2017, ArtExpo New York City 2017, and Baltimore Fine Craft Show 2017.
Effort: The layout and fabrication of the nested tables required 115 hours to complete and approximately 20 square feet of American Hard Maple and approximately 7 square feet of custom cut 1/8th” veneer.
Meaning or Importance of Material: The meaning of the various woods used varies within the communities and cultures where the trees grow and are harvested. Many of the exotic woods have been revered for their figured grain and color by furniture makers for hundreds of years. As a few examples, figured maple and American Black Walnut have been used in the production of both urban and rural furniture for nearly 400 years and have been revered for their strength, color, and figure. Walnut has been associated with our ability to use our minds clearly and become focused. It has also been associated with the human breath as well as having been used for the maintenance of health and disease prevention. Maple has been associated with giving of ourselves to others and is considered the tree of offering by Native American cultures. Maple is a fascinating a beautiful wood due largely to the great deal of variation in its appearance. Some maple wood is without any interesting grain, while some has an amazing wavy (called "curly") appearance with remarkable translucence. And some maple is known as "Bird's Eye" maple because it has tiny little spots in the grain, like miniature knotholes, throughout the wood. And still other maple is "spalted," or crossed with very dark lines within the grain. It is sometimes hard to tell that all of these woods come from the same type of tree. Maple is one of the most spiritual woods in existence. Because of this, the primary use of the wood is that of spiritual healing. It is also amazing when working with moon magic. Maple is a traveler's wood. Those who are always on the move and changing will feel right at home with this type of energy. It allows a person to focus in on the choices in any situation, eliminating luck and chance. Juniper holds powers of protection, healing, strength, love and peace.
The following information is from Touch Wood Rings and Wikipedia: The energies of rosewood are primarily feminine and are focused on the spiritual and institutive health and beauty. It is often used to assist one in spiritual healing and has been hugely prized for thousands of years by a myriad of cultures. Purple heart is a spiritual wood, often associated with the feminine. It enhances energy dealing with creativity and knowledge. One of the best woods when dealing with spiritual healing and health issues, purple heart would be especially useful in eradicating the negative energies that create strife in the home and workplace. The color purple has for centuries been associated with royalty and power and is the color of the crown chakra that represents transformation, creativity, spirituality, and spiritual awareness. Padauk or Vermilion was chosen for the bright color red which symbolizes power, good fortune, and is the color of the root chakra.
Bruce Schuettinger, In Honor of Mondrian, Coffee Table, 2017, Length 35.875””x Width 35.875” x Height 20.375”, $9,500
Materials: Table frame: Abet Laminati Strafificato 12mm Code 410 solid surface composite, ½” ribbon stripe mahogany veneered plywood, Richlite Black Diamond FSA Certified paper based composite, low VOC gloss lacquer based paint, and clear coat.
Construction: Mortice and tenons for the joinery between the Strafificato and Mahogany laminated top and laminated legs and between the laminated skirt and laminated legs; Richlite’s Black Diamond inlaid into the Strafificato top, skirt, and legs, and colored lacquer for the primary colored panels. The adhesives used in the production of the table were fish glue.
Philosophy: I designed this very functional and visually stimulating table to be a three-dimensional painting honoring the amazing work of the famed Dutch De Stijl Movement artist, Piet Mondrian, using 21st century materials. We interpreted several his paintings from the “Composition” group and “Tableau” to formulate a unique interpretation that embodies his use of primary colors framed within intersecting black lines, which vary in their thickness. I think Mondrian’s own words describe the feeling we were attempting to capture in creating this table. "absolute harmony of straight lines and pure colors underlying the visible world." The two-dimensional lines in his paintings are further emphasized when applied to a three-dimensional form. This table in constructed to serve as a coffee table for many years and is coated with a durable and user-friendly coating that is easily maintained. The use of the Richlite Black Diamond and FSC Certified plywood, moderately low VOC coatings, and low VOC adhesives; as well as our electrical power is generated via photovoltaic cells is considered to follow LEED Platinum and Gold Certifications and is in keeping with Green Practices, and Best Practices.
Exhibitions: The coffee table was debuted at ArtExpo in NYC in 2017, Spectrum Miami in 2017, the Castillo Gallery, 2018, the Joseph Gallery 2018, and 2019, and Art Palm Springs 2019.
Effort: The layout and fabrication of the coffee table required 125 hours to complete and approximately 25 square feet of Strafificato, 20 square feet of plywood, and 10 Square feet of Richlite Black Diamond.
Meaning or Importance of Material: The use of the Abet Laminati Strafificato and Richlite’s Black Diamond solid surface composition panels bring 21st century technological advanced and Eco-conscious products into the production of a functional piece of fine art honoring the work of the master.
Materials: Table frame: Abet Laminati Strafificato 12mm Code 410 solid surface composite, ½” ribbon stripe mahogany veneered plywood, Richlite Black Diamond FSA Certified paper based composite, low VOC gloss lacquer based paint, and clear coat.
Construction: Mortice and tenons for the joinery between the Strafificato and Mahogany laminated top and laminated legs and between the laminated skirt and laminated legs; Richlite’s Black Diamond inlaid into the Strafificato top, skirt, and legs, and colored lacquer for the primary colored panels. The adhesives used in the production of the table were fish glue.
Philosophy: I designed this very functional and visually stimulating table to be a three-dimensional painting honoring the amazing work of the famed Dutch De Stijl Movement artist, Piet Mondrian, using 21st century materials. We interpreted several his paintings from the “Composition” group and “Tableau” to formulate a unique interpretation that embodies his use of primary colors framed within intersecting black lines, which vary in their thickness. I think Mondrian’s own words describe the feeling we were attempting to capture in creating this table. "absolute harmony of straight lines and pure colors underlying the visible world." The two-dimensional lines in his paintings are further emphasized when applied to a three-dimensional form. This table in constructed to serve as a coffee table for many years and is coated with a durable and user-friendly coating that is easily maintained. The use of the Richlite Black Diamond and FSC Certified plywood, moderately low VOC coatings, and low VOC adhesives; as well as our electrical power is generated via photovoltaic cells is considered to follow LEED Platinum and Gold Certifications and is in keeping with Green Practices, and Best Practices.
Exhibitions: The coffee table was debuted at ArtExpo in NYC in 2017, Spectrum Miami in 2017, the Castillo Gallery, 2018, the Joseph Gallery 2018, and 2019, and Art Palm Springs 2019.
Effort: The layout and fabrication of the coffee table required 125 hours to complete and approximately 25 square feet of Strafificato, 20 square feet of plywood, and 10 Square feet of Richlite Black Diamond.
Meaning or Importance of Material: The use of the Abet Laminati Strafificato and Richlite’s Black Diamond solid surface composition panels bring 21st century technological advanced and Eco-conscious products into the production of a functional piece of fine art honoring the work of the master.
Bruce Schuettinger, Monolithus Capsicum 1 and 2, Occasional Tables, 2017, Length 24” x Width 21” x Height 22”, $15,000
Materials: Designer “Graphite” white oak, 33 different species and figure of wood from over 15 countries: American Black Walnut plain, and crotch, American Cherry, Amboynia Burl, Aromatic Red Cedar, Ash Burl, Bocote, Brazilian Cherry, Bubinga plain sliced and mottled, Chechen mottled, Cocobolo, English Walnut, Goncalo Alves, Kingwood, Macassar Ebony, Mahogany African and Santo Domingo, Maple; Marblewood, Olivewood, Osage Orange, Padauk, Pearwood, Purpleheart, Red Mallee burl, Rosewood East Indian and Honduran, Satinwood- Ceylon; Sycamore quartersawn, Teak, Tulipwood, Wenge, Vermilion, Zebrawood, and Ziricote.
Construction: The 1” and ¾” veneer core plywood panels forming the multi-facets and joined with blind splines, the designer oak veneer is laminated to the facets, the applied 1/8 mosaic pieces are adhered to routed area and infilled with special proprietary grout. There are six layers of a moderately low VOC varnish.
Philosophy: I designed the occasional table to be an approximate mirror image pair to be a functional pieces of fine art that work as a single piece or as a pair and embody the work of Abstract sculptors practicing during the minimalist period to include Tony Smith and David Smith. It also follows limited LEED certification guidelines with its use of all “old stock” wood, low to moderately low VOC coatings and adhesives, and our electricity usage is supplied via photovoltaic cell solar panels.
Exhibitions: The table debuted at the AD20/21 Fine Art Show in Boston Massachusetts in April 6, 2017, ArtExpo in New York City in 2017, Baltimore Fine Craft Show 2017, Spectrum Miami 2017, Art Hamptons 2018, SOFA 2018, and Art Palm Beach 2019.
Effort: The layout and fabrication of this table required 112 hours to complete for each table.
Meaning or Importance of the Materials: The designer oak was chosen for its industrialized metal appeance resembling the metal often used in sculpture and the various woods used for the mosaic pieces in the triad formations were chosen for their contrast in color and movement of grain causing opposing directions, which are emphasized by the angles of the facets forming the monolith. The woods used for the mosaic elements were chosen from retained cut-offs and were selected for their color and grain characteristics and placed in a varying poly-angular inlaid panels on the tops which partially engage the multi- faceted sides.
Materials: Designer “Graphite” white oak, 33 different species and figure of wood from over 15 countries: American Black Walnut plain, and crotch, American Cherry, Amboynia Burl, Aromatic Red Cedar, Ash Burl, Bocote, Brazilian Cherry, Bubinga plain sliced and mottled, Chechen mottled, Cocobolo, English Walnut, Goncalo Alves, Kingwood, Macassar Ebony, Mahogany African and Santo Domingo, Maple; Marblewood, Olivewood, Osage Orange, Padauk, Pearwood, Purpleheart, Red Mallee burl, Rosewood East Indian and Honduran, Satinwood- Ceylon; Sycamore quartersawn, Teak, Tulipwood, Wenge, Vermilion, Zebrawood, and Ziricote.
Construction: The 1” and ¾” veneer core plywood panels forming the multi-facets and joined with blind splines, the designer oak veneer is laminated to the facets, the applied 1/8 mosaic pieces are adhered to routed area and infilled with special proprietary grout. There are six layers of a moderately low VOC varnish.
Philosophy: I designed the occasional table to be an approximate mirror image pair to be a functional pieces of fine art that work as a single piece or as a pair and embody the work of Abstract sculptors practicing during the minimalist period to include Tony Smith and David Smith. It also follows limited LEED certification guidelines with its use of all “old stock” wood, low to moderately low VOC coatings and adhesives, and our electricity usage is supplied via photovoltaic cell solar panels.
Exhibitions: The table debuted at the AD20/21 Fine Art Show in Boston Massachusetts in April 6, 2017, ArtExpo in New York City in 2017, Baltimore Fine Craft Show 2017, Spectrum Miami 2017, Art Hamptons 2018, SOFA 2018, and Art Palm Beach 2019.
Effort: The layout and fabrication of this table required 112 hours to complete for each table.
Meaning or Importance of the Materials: The designer oak was chosen for its industrialized metal appeance resembling the metal often used in sculpture and the various woods used for the mosaic pieces in the triad formations were chosen for their contrast in color and movement of grain causing opposing directions, which are emphasized by the angles of the facets forming the monolith. The woods used for the mosaic elements were chosen from retained cut-offs and were selected for their color and grain characteristics and placed in a varying poly-angular inlaid panels on the tops which partially engage the multi- faceted sides.
Bruce Schuettinger, Secret Spirits, Liquor Cabinet, 2019, 36.5” wide, 19.5” deep, and 80.5’ high, $57,000
Materials: A combination of “old stock” domestic and imported woods to include solid Honduran Mahogany, Sapele veneer for the case and inlaid and laminated Marblewood, Vermillion, Brazilian Rosewood, Ceylon Satinwood, American Black Walnut, Mottled Bubinga, and Macassar Ebony.
Construction: The cabinet is constructed with traditional hand joinery including mortice and tenons, dovetails, dados, and rabbit joinery. The cabinet is constructed to the highest standards reminiscent of the great 17th and 18th century Ébéniste. The cabinet has essentially five secret compartments utilizing hand crafted custom hardware. These secret compartments include the two exterior doors which have no way to open them unless you know the “secret” and four interior compartments. The exterior doors and the two upper compartments in the interior containing the single doors; are accessed by placing a sculptural exotic wood element in specific unmarked places on the right exterior door and on the shelve above the two interior doors. These sculptural magnetic wood “keys” are part of the sculptural decoration located on the top shelf of the interior to unlock the two single doors and in the drawer below the exterior doors to unlock the right exterior door. Two additional secret compartments are accessed by removing the exotic wood element located between the two interior compartments from its dado and leaving the two magnetic wood “keys” in place ensuring the locking pins are in their retracted position, then the two single compartments can be slide on custom stainless steel tracks to the left and right revealing two compartments behind. These “secret” places within the cabinet are to house your most prized “spirits”, hence the title “Secret Spirits”. The drawer is fitted with a sliding top for a preparation or mixing counter and with an adjustable partitioned interior for all the necessary bar accoutrements.
Philosophy: I designed this liquor cabinet to be a functional piece of art furniture while creating both an interactive piece of Abstract Expressionistic sculpture and an Abstract Expressionistic painting where the interior decoration reflect the exterior decoration that wraps around the case and legs. The negative space between the legs and angled supports is an interplay of form and color. The cabinet has five secret compartments including the two front doors utilizing custom magnetic locks. The cabinet was designed to pay homage to the historically important cabinetmakers who have come before us such as the great German furniture makers, Abraham and David Roentgen and the French Ébéniste André-Charles Boulle who often created furniture with secret mechanical compartments, that were only accessible to those who knew how to access them. This cabinet is a 21st century interpretation of an historically important cabinet form called a cabinet on stand which was a very popular form in England and in Europe during the middle of the 17th century through the first quarter of the 18th century when it was often revered to as “A Cabinet of Wonder” because it housed many treasures of the natural worlds as well as ancient artifacts and precious jewels. These cabinets were owned by the royal families of England and Europe and were often ornately decorated with inlaid wood, ivory, mother of pearl, tortoise shell, and various metals as well as being adorned with silver and gold mounts reflecting the Baroque and Rococo Periods. Our version of this historic furniture form was designed to allow its owner to impress their guest with the treasures of the finest spirts. Validate
Materials: A combination of “old stock” domestic and imported woods to include solid Honduran Mahogany, Sapele veneer for the case and inlaid and laminated Marblewood, Vermillion, Brazilian Rosewood, Ceylon Satinwood, American Black Walnut, Mottled Bubinga, and Macassar Ebony.
Construction: The cabinet is constructed with traditional hand joinery including mortice and tenons, dovetails, dados, and rabbit joinery. The cabinet is constructed to the highest standards reminiscent of the great 17th and 18th century Ébéniste. The cabinet has essentially five secret compartments utilizing hand crafted custom hardware. These secret compartments include the two exterior doors which have no way to open them unless you know the “secret” and four interior compartments. The exterior doors and the two upper compartments in the interior containing the single doors; are accessed by placing a sculptural exotic wood element in specific unmarked places on the right exterior door and on the shelve above the two interior doors. These sculptural magnetic wood “keys” are part of the sculptural decoration located on the top shelf of the interior to unlock the two single doors and in the drawer below the exterior doors to unlock the right exterior door. Two additional secret compartments are accessed by removing the exotic wood element located between the two interior compartments from its dado and leaving the two magnetic wood “keys” in place ensuring the locking pins are in their retracted position, then the two single compartments can be slide on custom stainless steel tracks to the left and right revealing two compartments behind. These “secret” places within the cabinet are to house your most prized “spirits”, hence the title “Secret Spirits”. The drawer is fitted with a sliding top for a preparation or mixing counter and with an adjustable partitioned interior for all the necessary bar accoutrements.
Philosophy: I designed this liquor cabinet to be a functional piece of art furniture while creating both an interactive piece of Abstract Expressionistic sculpture and an Abstract Expressionistic painting where the interior decoration reflect the exterior decoration that wraps around the case and legs. The negative space between the legs and angled supports is an interplay of form and color. The cabinet has five secret compartments including the two front doors utilizing custom magnetic locks. The cabinet was designed to pay homage to the historically important cabinetmakers who have come before us such as the great German furniture makers, Abraham and David Roentgen and the French Ébéniste André-Charles Boulle who often created furniture with secret mechanical compartments, that were only accessible to those who knew how to access them. This cabinet is a 21st century interpretation of an historically important cabinet form called a cabinet on stand which was a very popular form in England and in Europe during the middle of the 17th century through the first quarter of the 18th century when it was often revered to as “A Cabinet of Wonder” because it housed many treasures of the natural worlds as well as ancient artifacts and precious jewels. These cabinets were owned by the royal families of England and Europe and were often ornately decorated with inlaid wood, ivory, mother of pearl, tortoise shell, and various metals as well as being adorned with silver and gold mounts reflecting the Baroque and Rococo Periods. Our version of this historic furniture form was designed to allow its owner to impress their guest with the treasures of the finest spirts. Validate
Bruce Schuettinger, Spiritual Freedom, Coffee Table, 2016, Length 60” x Width 24” x height 20”, $18,000
Materials: Black Diamond by Richlite, which is made from 100% FSA Certified recycled paper and "old stock" Blue Tiger Eye semi-precious stone mind in South Africa by Meerendol in the early 1970’s from panels that have been in storage since 1974 when the mine was closed down. Blue tiger Eye is approximately one billion years old and has a hardness of between 6.5 and 7.5. Approximately 100 man hours is required to make one square meter of this material. We have a very limited amount of this extremely rare material for use in a custom project.
Construction: Laminated Richlite Black Diamond legs with tenons into the top. The skirt is laminated to the top and tenoned into the legs.
Philosophy: I designed the coffee table to be a functional piece of artwork where the deep black of the Black Diamond Richlite would accentuated the vibrant iridescent blue hues of the polished blue tiger eye stones that have been inset into mortises in an “Abstract Expressionism” influenced design. The low VOC coatings were only applied to the Richlite allowing the gemstone to retain its original polished (cool to the touch) surface ensuring that all its physical properties are present. The use of the low VOC coatings and adhesives and adhesives, FSA certified recycled paper in the production of Richlite’s Black Diamond panels, the recycled Blue Tiger Eye, and our electric is provided by photovoltaic cell panels are considered to follow Leed Platinum Certification Guidelines as well as Green Practices, and Best Practices.
Exhibitions: The coffee table will have its public depute at the Boston Spring Craft Show in April 2016, Western Design Conference in 2016, The American Fine Craft Show Washington DC in 2016, the ArtExpo Show in New York, 2017, Baltimore Fine Craft Show 2017, Spectrum Miami 2017.
Effort: The layout and fabrication of the coffee table required 140 hours to complete and approximately 30 square feet of Richlite and nearly 3 square feet of blue tiger eye stone. By todays cost for this quality of gemstone, there is over $3,000.00 in value of the Blue Tiger Eye stones used in this table.
Meaning or Importance of Material: The following information is from Robert Harton: Tiger eye which is also known as Hawk's Eye, enhances integrity of communication and practical communication. It can help find courage to recognize thoughts and ideas, and the willpower to carry them into the physical realm. It is also a stone of intuition and insight. Blue tiger eye can be used for protection, especially of the upper chakras. It is also said to bring good luck to one who wears or carries it. Blue tiger eye is associated with the throat and third eye chakras it is calming and is used to release stress. It has also been shown to lower ones metabolism.
The following information is from Healing Crystals: Blue Tiger Eye (also called Hawk’s Eye, Tiger's Eye, Tiger eye) is a very soothing stone as it aids in reducing stress, increasing calm and easing anxiety. Shimmery Blue Tiger Eye can illuminate issues that may have been difficult to see otherwise. Blue Tiger Eye helps to open, clear and align the mid to higher range chakras, which will assist in speaking with clarity and acting from a place of integrity.
Blue Tiger Eye works extremely well with the Throat and Third Eye chakras, providing insight into internal conflicts and emotional or mental issues. Blue Tiger Eye brings a "go with the flow" attitude, aiding in relief from fears, phobias and hot tempers. Use Blue Tiger Eye to balance the male/female, Yin/Yang energies. If you are nervous about giving a presentation or speaking in public, keeping a piece of Tumbled Blue Tiger Eye in your pocket can help relax your Throat Chakra, clear any blockages, and form a strong connection with the Third-Eye Chakra, allowing for easier access to the intuition. Because of its association with the Hawk, Blue Tiger Eye is especially helpful to ease one’s fear of flying. It enables one to expand their horizons, often leading to better opportunities.
Materials: Black Diamond by Richlite, which is made from 100% FSA Certified recycled paper and "old stock" Blue Tiger Eye semi-precious stone mind in South Africa by Meerendol in the early 1970’s from panels that have been in storage since 1974 when the mine was closed down. Blue tiger Eye is approximately one billion years old and has a hardness of between 6.5 and 7.5. Approximately 100 man hours is required to make one square meter of this material. We have a very limited amount of this extremely rare material for use in a custom project.
Construction: Laminated Richlite Black Diamond legs with tenons into the top. The skirt is laminated to the top and tenoned into the legs.
Philosophy: I designed the coffee table to be a functional piece of artwork where the deep black of the Black Diamond Richlite would accentuated the vibrant iridescent blue hues of the polished blue tiger eye stones that have been inset into mortises in an “Abstract Expressionism” influenced design. The low VOC coatings were only applied to the Richlite allowing the gemstone to retain its original polished (cool to the touch) surface ensuring that all its physical properties are present. The use of the low VOC coatings and adhesives and adhesives, FSA certified recycled paper in the production of Richlite’s Black Diamond panels, the recycled Blue Tiger Eye, and our electric is provided by photovoltaic cell panels are considered to follow Leed Platinum Certification Guidelines as well as Green Practices, and Best Practices.
Exhibitions: The coffee table will have its public depute at the Boston Spring Craft Show in April 2016, Western Design Conference in 2016, The American Fine Craft Show Washington DC in 2016, the ArtExpo Show in New York, 2017, Baltimore Fine Craft Show 2017, Spectrum Miami 2017.
Effort: The layout and fabrication of the coffee table required 140 hours to complete and approximately 30 square feet of Richlite and nearly 3 square feet of blue tiger eye stone. By todays cost for this quality of gemstone, there is over $3,000.00 in value of the Blue Tiger Eye stones used in this table.
Meaning or Importance of Material: The following information is from Robert Harton: Tiger eye which is also known as Hawk's Eye, enhances integrity of communication and practical communication. It can help find courage to recognize thoughts and ideas, and the willpower to carry them into the physical realm. It is also a stone of intuition and insight. Blue tiger eye can be used for protection, especially of the upper chakras. It is also said to bring good luck to one who wears or carries it. Blue tiger eye is associated with the throat and third eye chakras it is calming and is used to release stress. It has also been shown to lower ones metabolism.
The following information is from Healing Crystals: Blue Tiger Eye (also called Hawk’s Eye, Tiger's Eye, Tiger eye) is a very soothing stone as it aids in reducing stress, increasing calm and easing anxiety. Shimmery Blue Tiger Eye can illuminate issues that may have been difficult to see otherwise. Blue Tiger Eye helps to open, clear and align the mid to higher range chakras, which will assist in speaking with clarity and acting from a place of integrity.
Blue Tiger Eye works extremely well with the Throat and Third Eye chakras, providing insight into internal conflicts and emotional or mental issues. Blue Tiger Eye brings a "go with the flow" attitude, aiding in relief from fears, phobias and hot tempers. Use Blue Tiger Eye to balance the male/female, Yin/Yang energies. If you are nervous about giving a presentation or speaking in public, keeping a piece of Tumbled Blue Tiger Eye in your pocket can help relax your Throat Chakra, clear any blockages, and form a strong connection with the Third-Eye Chakra, allowing for easier access to the intuition. Because of its association with the Hawk, Blue Tiger Eye is especially helpful to ease one’s fear of flying. It enables one to expand their horizons, often leading to better opportunities.
Bruce Schuettinger, Wild Blue, Credenza/Side Cabinet, 2020, 48.75” Length x 18.5” Width x 30.25” Height, $70,000
Materials: 45 different species and figured grain patterns of custom cut 1/8” veneer; to include: African, Honduran, Santo Domingo mahogany; American black walnut; American cherry; Aromatic red cedar; Asian elm; Birdseye maple; Black and white ebony; Bloodwood; Bocote; Boxwood; Brazilian cherry; Brown Mallee; Bubinga; Cocobolo; Desert Ironwood, English walnut; Goncalo Alves; Holly; Kingwood; Koa; Macassar Ebony; Maple, soft, hard, bird’s eye, and tiger; Olive wood; Osage orange; Padauk; Pear wood; Pink ivory; Purpleheart; Red Mallee burl; Rosewood East Indian, Brazilian, and Bolivian; Sapele, Satinwood- Ceylon and Brazilian; Sycamore; Tamboti; Teak; Tulipwood; Wenge; Western white cedar; Zebrawood; and Ziricote. Additional materials include solid mahogany, mahogany veneered plywood, Richlite Blue Canyon solid surface material, brass, bronze, copper, aluminum, stainless steel, and silver.
Construction: Hand and machine cut mortice and tenons, tongue and groove, rabbit, and dado joinery.
Philosophy: I designed this credenza/side cabinet to be a very functional case piece that is an unique one of a kind piece of functional art that employs our distinctive mosaic work utilizing a myriad of woods and metals applied to the case and doors as if it were a single painting. The contrasting blue top, base, and three-dimensional diagonal partitions add to the dynamics of the piece while not overpowering the mosaic panels which are separated by the same color blue that essentially is the Pantone color of the year “Classic Blue” . We wanted the flat surfaces of the sides and the doors to act as a single canvas on which the over 200 pieces of highly figured and naturally colored wood was applied as if like paint on a canvas using the orientation of the grain as brush strokes and the color of the wood as the paint on the artist’s pallet. The patterns of the applied woods represent the “Abstract Expressionism and Cubism movements of the late 19th and 20th centuries. The color, grain characteristics, and shapes of the applied mosaic pieces were carefully chosen for their position within the composition to create a sense of tension and dynamics between the various elements in a manner similar to the paintings of Vassily Kandinsky and Fernanad Leger. The wood used in the construction of the piece is all “old stock” which we have saved for over 30 years of collecting or from collections of “old stock” which we have purchased ensuring that we are not promoting the cutting of any LIVE Trees in the production of our work. We also retain small cut-offs to reuse in the mosaic portions of our work. These practices coupled with our use of low and moderately low VOC coating and adhesives, FSC certified substrate materials with no or very low formaldehyde, and our electric is provided by photovoltaic cell panels are considered to follow Leed Platinum, Gold, and Silver Certification Guidelines as well as Green Practices, and Best Practices.
Influences: Cleary this case piece reflects the groundbreaking work of Paul Evans in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s with his highly textured and colorful repetitive compartmentalized welded front case pieces of which he is well known for. It also reflects the Industrial Expressionism Movement of the period as well not only in its compositional juxtaposition of the various mosaic pieces and diagonal partitions, but also in it use of naturally color woods, plastic, metal, and the monochromatic blue to, base, and divisional partitions.
Exhibitions: The credenza/side cabinet was to have its debut at the 2020 AD Show in NYC but due to the current pandemic, that debut is uncertain.
Effort: The layout and fabrication of this sideboard required approximately 425 hours to complete
Meaning or Importance of Material: The meaning of the various woods used varies within the communities and cultures where the trees grow and are harvested. Many of the exotic woods have been revered for their figured grain and color by furniture makers for 100’s of years. As a few examples, figured maple and American Black Walnut have been used in the production of both urban and rural furniture for nearly 400 years and have been revered for their strength, color, and figure. Walnut has been associated with our ability to use our minds clearly and become focused. It has also been associated with the human breath as well as having been used for the maintenance of health and disease prevention. Maple has been associated with giving of ourselves to others and is considered the tree of offering by Native American cultures. Juniper holds powers of protection, healing, strength, love and peace. Oliver wood is associated with insight, communication, and inspiration. Hawaiian Koa is a sacred wood and represents strength and integrity as well as balance for the masculine and beauty and wisdom for the feminine. The energies of rosewood are primarily feminine and are focused on the spiritual and institutive health and beauty. It is often used to assist one in spiritual healing.
Materials: 45 different species and figured grain patterns of custom cut 1/8” veneer; to include: African, Honduran, Santo Domingo mahogany; American black walnut; American cherry; Aromatic red cedar; Asian elm; Birdseye maple; Black and white ebony; Bloodwood; Bocote; Boxwood; Brazilian cherry; Brown Mallee; Bubinga; Cocobolo; Desert Ironwood, English walnut; Goncalo Alves; Holly; Kingwood; Koa; Macassar Ebony; Maple, soft, hard, bird’s eye, and tiger; Olive wood; Osage orange; Padauk; Pear wood; Pink ivory; Purpleheart; Red Mallee burl; Rosewood East Indian, Brazilian, and Bolivian; Sapele, Satinwood- Ceylon and Brazilian; Sycamore; Tamboti; Teak; Tulipwood; Wenge; Western white cedar; Zebrawood; and Ziricote. Additional materials include solid mahogany, mahogany veneered plywood, Richlite Blue Canyon solid surface material, brass, bronze, copper, aluminum, stainless steel, and silver.
Construction: Hand and machine cut mortice and tenons, tongue and groove, rabbit, and dado joinery.
Philosophy: I designed this credenza/side cabinet to be a very functional case piece that is an unique one of a kind piece of functional art that employs our distinctive mosaic work utilizing a myriad of woods and metals applied to the case and doors as if it were a single painting. The contrasting blue top, base, and three-dimensional diagonal partitions add to the dynamics of the piece while not overpowering the mosaic panels which are separated by the same color blue that essentially is the Pantone color of the year “Classic Blue” . We wanted the flat surfaces of the sides and the doors to act as a single canvas on which the over 200 pieces of highly figured and naturally colored wood was applied as if like paint on a canvas using the orientation of the grain as brush strokes and the color of the wood as the paint on the artist’s pallet. The patterns of the applied woods represent the “Abstract Expressionism and Cubism movements of the late 19th and 20th centuries. The color, grain characteristics, and shapes of the applied mosaic pieces were carefully chosen for their position within the composition to create a sense of tension and dynamics between the various elements in a manner similar to the paintings of Vassily Kandinsky and Fernanad Leger. The wood used in the construction of the piece is all “old stock” which we have saved for over 30 years of collecting or from collections of “old stock” which we have purchased ensuring that we are not promoting the cutting of any LIVE Trees in the production of our work. We also retain small cut-offs to reuse in the mosaic portions of our work. These practices coupled with our use of low and moderately low VOC coating and adhesives, FSC certified substrate materials with no or very low formaldehyde, and our electric is provided by photovoltaic cell panels are considered to follow Leed Platinum, Gold, and Silver Certification Guidelines as well as Green Practices, and Best Practices.
Influences: Cleary this case piece reflects the groundbreaking work of Paul Evans in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s with his highly textured and colorful repetitive compartmentalized welded front case pieces of which he is well known for. It also reflects the Industrial Expressionism Movement of the period as well not only in its compositional juxtaposition of the various mosaic pieces and diagonal partitions, but also in it use of naturally color woods, plastic, metal, and the monochromatic blue to, base, and divisional partitions.
Exhibitions: The credenza/side cabinet was to have its debut at the 2020 AD Show in NYC but due to the current pandemic, that debut is uncertain.
Effort: The layout and fabrication of this sideboard required approximately 425 hours to complete
Meaning or Importance of Material: The meaning of the various woods used varies within the communities and cultures where the trees grow and are harvested. Many of the exotic woods have been revered for their figured grain and color by furniture makers for 100’s of years. As a few examples, figured maple and American Black Walnut have been used in the production of both urban and rural furniture for nearly 400 years and have been revered for their strength, color, and figure. Walnut has been associated with our ability to use our minds clearly and become focused. It has also been associated with the human breath as well as having been used for the maintenance of health and disease prevention. Maple has been associated with giving of ourselves to others and is considered the tree of offering by Native American cultures. Juniper holds powers of protection, healing, strength, love and peace. Oliver wood is associated with insight, communication, and inspiration. Hawaiian Koa is a sacred wood and represents strength and integrity as well as balance for the masculine and beauty and wisdom for the feminine. The energies of rosewood are primarily feminine and are focused on the spiritual and institutive health and beauty. It is often used to assist one in spiritual healing.
