COMPANION TABLE
Fifth Year Studio, Fall 2017
This piece was completed as part of Furniture Studio, an Advanced Studio Option in the 5th year. The course was set up as an Independent Project, and was largely self-directed.
It’s a small, lightweight table intended to be easily moved around, like a companion. Its use is particular to my own lifestyle and work habits: as I work in different positions, this companion table aleviates distraction, moving around with me when I need an extra surface– be it for a plate, teacup, papers, or my laptop. The table is easy to move and communicates its eagerness to help.
The tabletop is turned from London plane sycamore, accented with ash that matches the ash of the arms, legs, central spindle, and stretchers. In addition to wood, aluminum is used in the metal collar that anchors the arms to the central spindle, with brass rivets for added strength.
The piece is an experiment in delicacy, keeping components thin and sweeping while still performing functionally. It is in part a response to the bulkiness of the Portly Chair project.
CONSTRUCTION
This project makes use of turning techniques, both spindle-turning and bowl-turning, both wood and metal– making turned elements one of the design themes of the piece. Experimentation during construction revealed interesting differences between the various techniques.
The central spindle is made from three components: the metal collar is threaded on the top half of the spindle, which is in turn inserted into the bottom half of the spindle, sandwiching the metal.
The ash arms are made using a steam-bending technique, then cut down to final dimensions, shaped, and fitted for joints. Assembly required multiple custom jigs to ensure that the complicated angles were aligned properly.
