Australia now has a thriving community of bespoke furniture makers. Two weeks ago, at FURNITEX connect 2015, the Australian Furniture Association’s annual exhibition, we met some makers who displayed their furniture as an informal collective.
Bern Chandley uses traditional American Windsor chairmaking techniques to craft contemporary chairs and settees. Each piece is finely shaped and finished. Quality control is absolute because ‘basically I’m the only that touches them before they go out the door’, explained Bern.
Components are initially split from a log, because that way, Bern says, ‘I’m retaining the strength and flexibility of the tree’. Seats and turned sections however are made from kiln dried wood. Traditional northern hemisphere species are used, for example English ash and elm which can be obtained locally as urban salvage. Bern also uses natives such as blackwood which are light, strong and bend well and are therefore suitable for Windsor chairmaking.
Christopher Scott Duncombe makes furniture and joinery from his Longwarry, Gippsland workshop and also specialises in using traditional techniques to make contemporary pieces.
‘Mouldings and frame and panel are traditional, but you can put a modern twist on them depending on how you employ them’, he said. Traditional constructions allow for wood movement, a feature that guarantees sustainability but can be overlooked in some mass-produced furniture. Chris does however utilise the benefits of modern hardware and fittings. Chris’s Jindivick bed received an Australian Furniture Industry award.
Chris started woodworking with his father in the shed before he was ten years old by which age was already cutting dovetails. ‘All the way through school I couldn’t wait to leave because I wanted to chase my passion for furniture making. I’ve always been a woodworker’, he said.
Michael Hayes is a third generation joiner who has been making furniture for 22 years and currently chairs an AFA sub-committee to represent bespoke makers on an industry level. ‘We’re now seeing a trend towards people wanting to display their personal taste in their interiors a lot more’, said Michael, explaining why, in his words ‘the bespoke community is currently flourishing’.
Initiatives such as the recent bespoke maker display are aimed to show the public that handmade work is affordable and in fact a good investment. Michael produces a diverse range of custom furniture through to a few spec pieces such as those made for the Furnitex display. His Luther dining table received an AFI award.
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Hugh Makin's workshop is within The Old Woollen Mill, a creative precinct in Castlemaine, Vic. Hugh studied fine art and drawing before working with local cabinetmakers. Returning to Australia after working for a Canadian furniture maker he set up his own business in Castlemaine.
Coming from an art background he likes to incorporates sculptural elements into his furniture and uses salvaged and specialty woods.