As a curious designer I often find myself frequenting estate sales, online auctions and even local antique stores in search of oddities and relics of the past. This exercise affords me the opportunity to be exploratory in my quest for inspiration and has become a practice that remains integral in the overall design process. The act of seeking without presumption allows one to experience new pieces through an unadulterated lens. This method has also proven itself to be an effective way to develop a historical connection with pieces and to appreciate the zeitgeist of any given period.
It’s this exact process that led me to discover a set of 19th-century Japanese street vendor stools on a British auction site. Initially frustrated by my inability to discover any sort of historical context or provenance for such a piece, my focus soon became directed towards its simple aesthetic and form. I instantly became drawn to the stool’s intimacy of scale/proportion. The angularity of their shape combined with a straightforward construction method made this not only an approachable project from a build perspective, but one that can easily be integrated into any space.
Preparing the Panels
This story is from the November 2020 edition of Popular Woodworking.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2020 edition of Popular Woodworking.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Woodworking Techniques Restoring an Antique Rocking Chair
Bring new life to a tired antique. Here are my steps to restoring an old rocking chair
CRAFTING MAGIC: Making a Drawer Box
One of magic's oldest box tricks.
Laminated Coping Saw
This project brings together a diverse set of skills including epoxy work, bent lamination, metalworking, turning, and riveting
Mid-Century Media Console
This Mid-Century table is a great way to blend woodworking with modern materials
Tools 101 Calling all Dust Extractors
We take a look at eight dust extractors to see which ones stand out and which ones suck the most
SawStop Compact Table Saw
Most woodworkers are familiar now with the SawStop line of table saws
Grizzly Electric Sawmill
As a sawmill owner, I cut lumber for a variety of outlets. Most, I cut for myself
Veneered and Dovetailed Box
A box like this one is the perfect way to polish your hand tool skills and play with new techniques.
Mid-Mod Sideboard
All the flavors of walnut shine in this versatile storage and serving piece.
Limbert Style #357 Bookcase
Traditional construction techniques make this mediumsized bookcase a real gem.