Formed By Nature

The Elemental Coffee Table series begins with the search for a singular piece of wood—one whose character naturally dictates the form. This slab of maple, with its spalting, quilting, curl, and remarkable red overtones, was one I bought the moment I saw it, long before I knew what it would become. I was immediately drawn to a large inclusion (a defect where bark is trapped within a tree’s union) and to the sweep of the curve along one edge. That natural curve ultimately shaped the overall form, while the inclusion became the starting point for the design.

This table has always felt like a sculpture—formed by emphasizing the wood’s most striking features and letting the material guide the decisions. The tree’s own curve became the defining gesture of the top, echoed by quilting in the maple that follows its path. That same curve was carried into the base, transferred to a bending form used to shape the stretcher and apron, creating a quiet dialogue between top and base.

The table is finished with a wiping varnish.