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The beauty of real craftsmanship in bespoke handmade furniture
by: swedeint
Total views: 7
Word Count: 575
The world of interior design is now becoming increasingly cluttered by reproduction furniture in a wide range of styles much of it shoddily produced in china and the far east and some of it really quite good. All to satisfy the unquensheable thirst of western consumer culture with the attendant environmental costs of mass manufacture, carbon intensive shipping and cheap third world labour. ItÕs a shame because it makes it that much harder for real local craftsmen to make ends meet Ð thereÕs something very special about furniture that has been lovingly coaxed from a beautiful piece of well dried timber Ð honed, carved and polished to perfection. It takes years to perfect the kind of skill that can create graceful curves and sweeping arches by hand Ð something a machine can replicate but never match. Only a human hand can create that extra mojo that you find in something made with love and attention to detail that works with the natural anomalies of wood to create beauty- thatÕs why antique pieces continue to command a strong following Ð from people who appreciate artistry and feel of real wood. Of course economics requires the presence of the reproduction market serving customers in different price ranges but I am continually surprised that even at the extortionate prices at the high end of the market , companies make gaudy copies of antique furniture from veneered mdf and plywood with the lame excuse that Ôchippendale would have used mdf if it had existed in his dayÕ. I donÕt think so Ð sure inert wood gives stability in our age of central heating but itÕs the natural movement and vibe of real wood that we love and creates something special that we want to hand down over generations. Reproduction furniture is fine from a distance although at the cheaper end of the market it just doesnÕt look right. But look closely at the way the finsh, the way drawers are jointed Ð is there hand dovetailing? Do the shelves use handcarved dog tooth racking? How are the carvings made and applied? How does it hold together as a piece overall Ð does it have the essential Ôunity of beingÕ that all great furniture has? A great piece of furniture is so much more than the sum of its parts Ð itÕs the way it is put together and the feeling that is put into it Ð something that cant be hurried Ð and there are no short cuts for handshaping and burnishing. Again this jars with todays Ô I want it now Ô mentality where no-one is prepared to wait for anything and expect to just pluck it off a shelf. ThatÕs fine but what you gain in instant choice you lose in the quality of the final product. Again looking at the interior design market as a whole, there is so much Ôinstant redesignÕ based on looks popularised on tv Ð its become like the fashion market Ð disposable styles changing so fast to drive the great god of consumerism and satisfying the empty soul of mammon that todays consumer seems to exhibit. Nothing built to last or built with care. Was it the beatles who said Ô you cant hurry loveÓ? it the same with real furniture and unless we support the younger craftsmen , restorers, French polishers and the like who are all too few, we will end up in a world where ÔbusinessÕ not ÔcraftÕ is all important and that would be so sad.
About the Author
http://www.swedishinteriordesign.co.uk http://www.gustavianfurniture.co.uk http://www.bespoke-handmade-furniture.co.uk http://www.moraclocks.co.uk
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