Peter Smith, Margaret River, WA

Two Coffee Tables In The Arts And Crafts Style
Jarrah, WA sheoak
1200 x 420 x 420mm

Style
The tabletops are single piece, all recycled jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata)finished very thin (14mm) which ‘ float’, if you like, above the square pegged mortise and tenoned framework of the sheoak leg and rail support structure. Both tables are exactly the same in dimension proportion and build quality.

Timber
The jarrah was sourced from a Perth innercity (Northbridge) house demolition. The house was built circa 1920s. Eight single, perfect, pieces of very rare old growth jarrah were salvaged being the original ‘laundry’ shelving. All leg and rail support structure components were cut from a single flitch of air dried Western Australian sheoak (Casuarina fraserana). Tenon pegs are cut from a single board of jarrah. In keeping with my philosophy on the sourcing of raw materials for furniture making, the sheoak flitch and jarrah tenon peg material were salvaged from the forest floor.

Joinery
Square pegged, mortise and tenon, throughout. No glue is used in the construction. The finish is a hand rubbed blend of oils made in my own workshop which enhances and protects the natural qualities and feel of the wood.

Photos: Stephen Blakeney