Side and End Tables
Over the years I have made a number of small general purpose tables. Below I have included some of my favourites.
The Kooka Side Table, A Rubbish to Heirloom story.
In 2014 I created this lovely little circular side table for an exhibition, measuring 600mm in diameter and 600mm tall. It was constructed almost entirely from an old door frame which presented itself to me as broken bit of rubbish at our local tip. Being all Northern Silky-oak I collected it and it was just the material I had in mind to build a small circular side table. With the addition of some reclaimed stock for the legs and a little veneer for the curved rails the materials list I needed to make it was complete. Once the main elements of the table were constructed, the marquetry motifs were created from shop sawn natural veneers and inlayed into the top.
The photos below show part of the table construction and the marquetry motif process. Some of the veneers in the motifs were: Camphor-laurel, Spalted Pigeon Berry Ash, Red Cedar, Lychee, Walnut and Silver Basswood.
The busted up old door frame.
With the paint cleared away the parts were looking a lot more promising.
After making the curved rails and turning the legs it was time for the glue up. Glueing up a circular object is not without its challenges, so the best approach I find is the Spanish Windlass i.e. a bit of rope and a stick. In this case it was one of my old drumsticks.
The parts milled up, marked out and ready for assembly.
Part of the marquetry motif process.
The finished Kooka.
The Kooka Side Table
Gum leaf detail, Camphor-laurel and Huon pine.
The Kooka Table.
Leg and rail detail.
The Gum leaf Side Table
This little side table in recycled Northern Silky-oak was commissioned a number of years ago and was made to suit my client’s wishes. A little smaller than the previous ‘Kooka’ table, it still remains one of my favourites. It measured 450mm in diameter and 600mm tall.
The photos below show the leg and rail detail, the leaf marquetry and that glorious Northern Silky-oak grain.
Leg and rail detail showing the wonderful Silky-oak grain.
Gum Leaf detail, Camphor-laurel and Huon Pine.
Nest Of Tables
These delightful little tables were remade when my client wanted some birds inlaid into the existing tops of a set of nesting tables. The old tops simply weren’t suitable for a marquetry inlay so new tops were cut from some recycled NQ walnut. I decided the bird sizes should match the table sizes and placing them all on similar branches made from the same veneer helped to tie the whole composition together.
Nest of Tables with a Golden Whistler, Eastern Yellow Robin and Red-backed Fairy wren inlays.
The Golden Whistler.
Eastern Yellow Robin.
The Red-backed Fairy Wren.
End Table In Northern Silky Oak
This little end table was made up using an older table that my clients wanted changed to suit the existing decor. With the addition of a gum leaf inlay it fitted in nicely.
Gum leaf detail in Camphor-laurel and Yellow Carabeen
Meditation table/altar in recycled New Guinea Rosewood with gum leaf inlay.
Gum leaf detail, meditation table.