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I had a slack day in the shop recently whilst waiting for materials to arrive. (Bad planning in the logistics department….!)I also had 2 almost book matching boards of Hard Pear that has been continually and persistently watching me from a corner of the shop for quite some time….

Hard Pear (Olinea ventosa) is indigenous to South Africa and grows in the Cape Province. The tree can grow to impressive proportions under the right conditions, reaching heights in excess of 25 m. Due to the uneven, wavy grain it is not an easy timber to work with but the striking grain pattern makes it worth it. Unfortunately the timber is scarce in supply.

What to do with just 2 short boards? I decided to pay tribute to George Nakashima by making a small version of his famous Minguren design. I recently read his book: The soul of a tree. So inspiring! (Yes Ken, I finally managed to borrow a copy from someone!) The little table measures 760 long x 580 wide x 430 high, too small to be a coffee table so let's call it a side table. Off course I had to add the well known butterfly key! Mine was done with Candlewood.

The size of the table was determined by the size of the boards and proportions happened as I went along. Again, no drawings. Don't I ever learn? In retrospect the vertical piece just looks too high/square. Your comments, critique is welcome.

Gallery

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Div- a beautiful table and you know I am a Nakashima fan. I would also like to have some of that wood! However, I think I agree with you in that the edges of the vertical piece underneath are perhaps a but too "vertical." The square vertical base appears to be just stuck there- rather than flowing into the top? I don't know how I would have done it differently, but I bet you have already thought about what you would do differently. LOL I am thinking that maybe just turning the boards of the base so that the grain ran vertical rather than horizontal would have given a perspective of "lift" to the base? Also, by turning the grain vertical, you could have cut a faux live edge on the base simply by cutting along the natural grain pattern (I am thinking of the dark grain along the bottom board) Just some thoughts. YOu know I love you and admire and envy your work and talents! ;)
 

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good point rivergirl - I can see just what you mean. another option would be to cut the base so that it's narrower (by ~1/4 to 1/3) at the bottom and angles up to meet the top.

it sucks to have to make such tough decisions with such precious wood though - i know i'd want to keep as much of it as possible!
 

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I see some of you are interested in the way I did the joints. I really wouldn't mind sharing a photo or two. One big problem, my wife dropped the camera today and now it refuses to cooperate :^(( Basically, the foot piece is half lapped into the vertical board. Into the top of the same board, 2 battens about 22mm x 50mm are also half lapped at 90 degrees. They are somewhat shorter than the width of the top which they support. See also if you can make any sense of the description to swirt above.

Dusty, divide my dimensions by 25.4 to get inches.

Bluepine38, I laugh. You will not believe what info (and old tools!) has made its way to the bottom end of this continent. I understand the book; "The soul of a tree" is out of print. What a pity.

Youngestson, thank you for your comments. It is actually an easy table to make.

Schwieb, yes, your recent mention of George motivated me once more to try and find a copy of the book. This time I succeeded, even though it is only on loan. It is heritage wood indeed! You have me curious now!

Rivergirl, thanks for your thoughts, so much better than just a boring "attaboy."
 

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Thank you for the measurement calculator : )
Have a great day !
 

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Attaboy Div. Oh wait, I mean, ummm, wouldn't the bow tie have been better in ummm, errr… ebony (I like it the way it is but felt obliged to come up with something ;-). Nice piece.

By the way, I met his daughter (Nakashima's) at a show a while back… terrific lady.
 

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Div,

I had some additional thoughts today.

I looked up the Minguren keyword you used for the table. I found other examples of tables built using George's influence. Many of them had a longer top than base. Your top is about the same length as the base. Perhaps this causes the too high/square felling you have about the base.

I know you only had a limited amount of wood but did you consider resawing the bottom piece into veneer ( about 3 mm?) which would allow you to make the base in different shapes/widths until you find the one you are more comfortable with and then add the veneer preserving the look.

You may also consider making the cross piece of the base in another wood. Or perhaps raising the height of the table by adding some cross pieces under the top that are mostly hidden. The candlewood has a nice color that mixes well with the Hard Pear.

Best regards,
 

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Chip, I laugh!!

YoungestSon, thanks for your extra input. However, the water is under the bridge now….the table is gone…

The owner of a nearby gallery came to pick up some paintings from my wife. She saw the table….and took it with….
 

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Well, if it is gone to a gallery it must be good enough to be good enough! Hope it sells in time for Christmas!
 

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Hey rivergirl, you know what it is like. We just see the flaws in our work, we spend so much time with it. Again, today I delivered a custom bed and all I could see where the flaws and I'm all worried that the client won't be happy and they are delighted and I still see the flaws but I feel a little better! I guess it is what keeps me going: the next one will be perfect. And it never is!

They say the difference between a pro and an amateur is that the pro does not point out his mistakes! So I try that and it works!

Yeah, a sale for Xmas will be great, thanks!
 

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Div- I AM POSITIVE THE NEXT ONE WILL BE PERFECT!!! Just ask your wife. :) BTW - Tell her HAPPY DAY OF THANKSGIVING in South Africa- even if it's not a holiday there- you can still take this day to tell you wife what a lovely woman she is and how grateful you are to have her. And she will be so happy. :)
 

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Div, IMHO, it's the subtle flaws in a piece that give it character. Not to many mind you but nevertheless they give furniture character and the wood also has character because of the flaws in it. I really believe in my heart that these things is what is pleasing to the human eye and soul and I'm sure that these emotions have been developed over thousands of years - really ever since man started interacting with his tools and wood. So the subtle flaws in the right amounts are really a good thing and also testify to the fact that the one who made the piece was a human being with a heart and soul. And since it was God who created both the man and the wood then this is a special gift from God to all of us.
 

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Div- he's just saying that because he now owns one of MY stools! HAHAHAHAHA LOLOLOL
 

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You are a character, Kelly; did you know that? :)
 

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I have been accused of that.. yes. :) But thanks for noticing. LOL
 

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Hi brother,
I have returned from the warm Croix, to a snowy Copenhagen, and are now in a cold Paris… But here my beautiful Caroline are keeping my heart so warm.
This also mean I'm back on my mail and LJ again, and happy to see you have posted.
What a wonderful table you have made!
I like the design siplicity (I can read it's not), and love this wonderful wood - my God! It was 'just' in the workshop.
I think this table could not have been done better, and your little detail with the 'butterfy' dovetail, makes it exelent.
You have a talent my dear Div!
You dont make a table or a chair, when you do it for you - you feel it, and are inside it, so it becomes alive, and this is when things goes from a good job, to a piece.
Thank you for sharing this with us,
best thoughts from my old warm beating heart,
Mads
 

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Hey Mads, WELCOME BACK!

Thanks for all your kind and beautiful words. Hugs to your Caroline.
 
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