John D. Waters, Fitzroy, Victoria

Trinity Buffet
Qld walnut, Qld maple, brushbox, grey box
3800 x 1140 x 550mm

Concept
The concept of this buffet originated from a commission by Trinity College at the University of Melbourne. The buffet was intended to service the staff common room as a storage cabinet for audio visual equipment, beverages, glassware, newspapers and journals. The brief also specified that the cabinet was to blend into the existing architecture and fittings of the room. The centrepiece of the common room was a large fireplace featuring a striking parquetry panelling above the mantle. The other distinct feature was a set of bay windows framed by ornate plaster work in an upward arrowhead formation—suggestive of the late Gothic Revival Trinity Chapel on site. Both of these elements came to be reflected in the design of the buffet. The doors of the buffet mirror the panelling above the fireplace, while the plaster work of the surrounding bay windows can be seen in the ‘Trinity’ pillars that section each pair of doors. The buffet has an Art Deco feel to it, having curved veneer doors and laminated legs. The veneer on the buffet doors is Queensland walnut (Endiandra palmerstonii). This type of veneer was used extensively during the Art Deco period in Australia. The buffet I made for Trinity College inspired me to make a modified version of the same buffet style, which is the piece I have entered into the exhibition.

Materials
All of the materials were chosen to match the existing furniture and wood features of the room at Trinity College. The top is grey box timber salvaged from Batemens Bay. The legs are made from grey box salvaged from dead trees at Rushworth in central Victoria. The veneer is Queensland walnut from the Atherton Tablelands west of Cairns and the drawers were made with Queensland maple left over from a boat built by a retired boat builder. The inner parts of the buffet are brushbox.

Joinery
Sections of the top of the buffet have been dovetailed together to extend the length of the timber. The drawers were also dovetailed together. The top was biscuited. The buffet was assembled using a tongue and groove method.

Glues
Tightbond III was used to glue the tops and the cabinets. White PVA was used to press the veneers.

Finishes
The whole buffet was sprayed with Beckers two-pack finish with a 40% gloss.

Techniques
The technique for the doors began with making the ribbing, which was shaped to get the right curve, followed by laying bending ply over the top so each curve was even for every door. The veneer was then buzzed to get a clean join from edge to edge and each panel was cut oversize on an angle and stitched together with veneer tape. Then each door was individually pressed in a vacuum press and the rough edges were trimmed off with a router before being sanded, ready to spray. The size of the doors was critical in that all doors needed to be exactly the same dimension. When fitted to the cabinet there needs to be a 1.5mm gap at the left edge, the centre and the right edge of each pair of doors.
Another technique was used for the laminated legs. Three separate sections of the leg were shaped before being glued together and then shaped again as one. This was done to give layered effect to the legs.

Photos: Paul Perillo