Roy Schack, Qld

Hagi II
New Guinea walnut, American ash
1405 h x 410 w x 360mm d

The materials used in Hagi II are New Guinea walnut and American ash. The walnut was sourced from a local Brisbane furniture maker prior to their closing down. It had been in their possession for some years before I purchased it 18 months ago. One of the owners in fact came in afterwards and couldn’t believe the transformation from the original slab. The American ash had been literally rescued from the bin following the closure of a local furniture restorer. It formed the sides of a couple of beautifully made drawers probably in excess of 100 years of age, but alas had no carcase with them. I figured it was better to ‘re-birth’ the ash than to let it go.
The piece is constructed using a combination of hand cut dovetails, mortise and tenon joints, and biscuits. The legs have been shaped with a handplane, spokeshave and rasp to a pleasing curve. Titebond Ultimate glue was used throughout and the piece has been finished in Feast Watson Fine Buffing Oil.
Hagi II really had its genesis with “Pip”, a cabinet made for an exhibition some years ago. Named after a small town in South West Honshu, Japan, famous for its ‘Hagi-yaki’, Japanese ceramics, something which I am starting to develop a deep admiration for after having visited a Living National Treasure there. The piece hopefully reflects a certain level of peace and harmony. It also shows my obsession with shadow lines and separating forms.

Photos: Roy Schack