Ben Barclay Woodworking

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Every thing I make tells a story. A story of a collaboration between an artist and a client. A story about the journey of the wood from a forest, to a new life - chosen, presented, polished, and hopefully honoured by it's place in a piece of furniture.
One of my favourite inspirations comes from my precision machinist friend, who said when he comes home from a long day of work he likes to trail his fingers across the (silky smooth) top of the dresser I made him, and that brightens his day.
Everyone has dreams. Some of those dreams concern furniture. My role is finding out enough about who you are to help you find and clarify that vision, draw it out onto a piece of paper, and pass it through the "amplifier" that is all my experience of people, trees and furniture to create something completely unique.
Unique can be subtle. This six drawer mission dresser follows a traditional form. My contribution was re-sawing a large board, and unfolding it into six book matched drawer fronts to create harmony.
This dictionary desk was more a tale of finding the perfect piece of wood, which patiently lived in my shop for several years waiting for the right project.
This desk provides a large comfortable work station, without overwhelming the room, using solid natural forms. The texture of the sides was just a clear gift from the blue. It is unusual, because it is risky and hard to construct. I am comfortable pushing the boundaries of woodworking, if it brings utility, or freshness. Or just for fun.
I invite you to explore my site, and begin a conversation by email or phone that seeks to honour the trees from which we make our furniture, while giving you a place to store your socks, or share your dinner, and create something special, in this world.

Thank you to all my friends and clients, past and future, my family, apprentices, and of course, all my trees - planted and transformed.

All text and images copyright © Ben Barclay Woodworking 1999-2008
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