Christopher Callan
Year 12
Gilroy Catholic College, Castle Hills, NSW
Teacher: Stephen Bushell
Tas blackwood, American rock maple
Table: 960mm long x 380mm wide x 630mm high
Footrest: 430mm long x 230mm wide x 300mm high.
This piece was made as a year 12 major project between February 1st and August 1st. The project was crafted from Tasmanian blackwood, however the drawers and butterfly inlays are made with contrasting American rock maple. I also upholstered the footrest, using embellished fabric and high density foam to create the cushion.
The concept of was brought about by my desire to hand carve timber for the first time. After researching various project ideas I came across a victorian era Queen Anne Lowboy with carved cabriole legs. The curvaceous and challenging nature of this table was very appealing to me.
Because it was intended for my living room, which has aspects of both old and contemporary, I needed to amalgamate these two very different styles in one piece of furniture, hence, a very clean and simple, yet antique looking table was born… with a slight nautical twist.
The body of the table is joined with biscuit joints, with an exception for the front, which is a combination of more complex joints such as ‘butterfly anchored mortise and tenons', ‘stopped corner bridle' and ‘pinned dovetail’ joints. The drawers are joined with finger joints and a rebated plywood base, self veneered on both sides with resawn blackwood timber. The side panels were embellished with pyrographic ship wheels, stippled by a friend of mine (Danielle Cattell). Lastly, the project was finished with two coats of Danish oil and a citrus wax.
Photos: Christopher Callan
