Newhall Collection

22 Jan

We were commissioned to create a collection of very special heirloom pieces, by a mother for her children, using timber from their Highland estate.

The first step was for Angus to sort through a shed of wood and identify the various timbers. The timber had been air drying for decades and Angus found elm, oak, crab apple, holly and sycamore. Some we could steambend (which also seasons the wood) and others were kiln dried in our workshop as required.

Newhall Backgammon Table opens

The furniture for the Newhall Collection was very individual to each person reflecting their interests. The design for the Newhall Backgammon Table developed our innovative slice and bend steam-bending techniques and was combined with exquisite cabinet making. Planks of rich red cherry wood were sliced, split and bent, similar to our Y components but this time flipped upside down, extended and interconnected to create petal like forms that become the base of the table. Expanding on the concept of the flower, a plain table top hinges open to reveal a stunning complex interior, and segments of light sycamore, dark burr elm and warm cherry form a backgammon board. The dice shaker is a hollowed out block of elm and the counters are elm and sycamore.

The intention with the Newhall Drinks Barrow was to bring a sense of glamour and 1920’s joie de vivre for a member of the family who loves mixing cocktails. The top, with a slot for most commonly used drinks, is made in elm with a fabulous grain pattern. The sides, with shelves for glasses and bottles, are made in light holly wood with bevelled mirror tiles. The end has space for wider bottles and Cumbria Crystal martini glasses. The frame and wheel are fumed oak.

Constructing a wooden wheel was a first for the workshop and the rim was steambent and the spokes were a development of our unique sliced and steambent Y component found in many designs in the Made to Order section.