Alexsandra Pontonio, Soft: A Low Table (TABLES, CHAIRS, DESKS 2022)

Photos:

Pier Carthew

Soft: A Low Table, celery top pine. Designed by John Wardle and made by Alexsandra Pontonio for ‘Relatively Useful’ an exhibition at Heide Museum of Modern Art which ran during Melbourne Design Week 2022. This is the first time I have worked with a designer as ‘the maker’. I thoroughly enjoyed the collaboration which pushed me to try a few new techniques and resulted in a beautiful outcome. The tightly-shouldered half-lap join on the table’s underframe crosses on an unconventional angle which required diligent planning and execution. I’d never picked up carving tools before this project but was convinced to after an excited phone call from John where he asked me if it were possible to include the coved detail on each leg. 'One of the dangers of low tables set usually somewhere in the middle of a room is the late night, very early in the morning shin injury caused by a failure to navigate an object known to be there but positioned somewhere below a reduced peripheral vision. ‘Soft’ round edges of John Wardle Soft a Low Table should at least minimise the inevitable lower limb injuries. It is not recommended that hot drinks be placed toward its edges. In discussions with its maker Alexsandra Pontonio, John considered making this table slightly higher. She however gave her own 5-foot 1-inch perspective and it stayed low. At two points a slice and a cut reveal the form of the curve.' - John Wardle, Designer

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