Live edge
Encyclopedia
Live edge or natural edge is a style of furniture
where the carpenter
incorporates the natural edge of the wood into the design of the piece. Live edge furniture often incorporates gnarly wood, such as Alligator Juniper
, and salvaged wood that could not be used in conventional woodworking. There are special challenges involved in working with this type of wood, and several methods for live edge have developed. Some leave the natural holes and cracks in the wood while other artist fill them with resins.
styles. Originally it was categorized as rustic, but the two styles have many differences.
, winner of the Institute of Architects' Gold Craftsmanship Medal, is known for leaving the natural edge of the wood as part of the finished piece including in his series for Knoll
in 1946. His style is considered an extension of the Arts and Crafts movement
and employs craftsmanship that Nakashima said was "not only a creative force, but a moral idea." Mixing Japanese, American and International Modern style he designed furniture lines for Knoll and Widdicomb-Mueller "using timber organically and deliberately chose boards with knots, burrs and figured grain."
Live Edge Design, in Duncan, BC
, started to redefine the practice of retaining the natural edge in furniture design in the early 2000s, giving it a West Coast, reclaimed wood twist. This look was quickly adopted by luxurious west coast resorts and fine coastal residences. Large slabs of reclaimed maple with beautiful grain detail and the inclusion of other natural elements are all indications of Live Edge Design's craftsmanship.
In 2005, the manager of the 10th Fine Furnishings Show in Providence, Rhode Island said she had "seen a fair amount of live-edge work, pieces that use the natural, wavy edge of the board, along with pieces made from sticks or twigs".
Chris Krauss, of East Wilton and MaineWoodNet and once part of the SugarWood Gallery cooperative, planned to share display space for her Native Woods' live-edge furniture line with Aardvark Outfitters in 2008.
Wes Herman, owner of nine Woods Coffee stores in Whatcom County, uses his Birch Bay store to showcase his live-edge tables handmade from fallen, dried trees gathered over the years. "The live edge is the actual natural edge where the bark has been removed," he said. Adding "We design them and they are locally made from native Whatcom County wood."
Andy and Aaron Sanchez, Native New Mexican artist redefine rustic and western art by preserving the natural beauty of the wood
Groovystuff, a Dallas-based manufacturer of residential furnishings audited by the Forest Stewardship Council
, crafts furniture from reclaimed teak wood and teak the root bulbs. The company introduced a line of "made in America" wrought iron
frames from Charleston Forge
combined with the live edge teakwood tops in 2007.
Lou Quallenberg Studios, located in the Texas Hill Country
, uses live edge design for its mesquite
furnishings and incorporates natural cracks, crevices, and insect holes, sometimes decorating them with inlaid gem-quality turquoise or bits of gold.
Furniture
Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...
where the carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
incorporates the natural edge of the wood into the design of the piece. Live edge furniture often incorporates gnarly wood, such as Alligator Juniper
Juniperus deppeana
Juniperus deppeana is a small to medium-sized tree reaching 10-15 m tall. It is native to central and northern Mexico and the southwestern United States...
, and salvaged wood that could not be used in conventional woodworking. There are special challenges involved in working with this type of wood, and several methods for live edge have developed. Some leave the natural holes and cracks in the wood while other artist fill them with resins.
Origins
Live edge is a mix of "Western" and rustic furnitureRustic furniture
Rustic furniture is furniture employing sticks, twigs or logs for a natural look. Many companies, artists and craftspeople make rustic furniture in a variety of styles and with a variety of historical and contemporary influences...
styles. Originally it was categorized as rustic, but the two styles have many differences.
Practitioners
George NakashimaGeorge Nakashima
George Katsutoshi NakashimaGeorge Katsutoshi NakashimaGeorge Katsutoshi Nakashima( was a Japanese-American woodworker, architect, and furniture maker who was one of the leading innovators of 20th century furniture design and a father of the American craft movement...
, winner of the Institute of Architects' Gold Craftsmanship Medal, is known for leaving the natural edge of the wood as part of the finished piece including in his series for Knoll
Knoll (company)
Knoll is a design firm that produces office systems, seating, files and storage, tables and desks, textiles , and accessories for office and for the home. The company also manufactures furniture for the home by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Harry Bertoia, Florence Knoll , Frank Gehry, Maya Lin and...
in 1946. His style is considered an extension of the Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
and employs craftsmanship that Nakashima said was "not only a creative force, but a moral idea." Mixing Japanese, American and International Modern style he designed furniture lines for Knoll and Widdicomb-Mueller "using timber organically and deliberately chose boards with knots, burrs and figured grain."
Live Edge Design, in Duncan, BC
Duncan, British Columbia
Duncan is a city on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.-History:The community is named after William Chalmers Duncan . He arrived in Victoria in May 1862, then in August of that year he was one of the party of a hundred settlers which Governor Douglas took to Cowichan Bay...
, started to redefine the practice of retaining the natural edge in furniture design in the early 2000s, giving it a West Coast, reclaimed wood twist. This look was quickly adopted by luxurious west coast resorts and fine coastal residences. Large slabs of reclaimed maple with beautiful grain detail and the inclusion of other natural elements are all indications of Live Edge Design's craftsmanship.
In 2005, the manager of the 10th Fine Furnishings Show in Providence, Rhode Island said she had "seen a fair amount of live-edge work, pieces that use the natural, wavy edge of the board, along with pieces made from sticks or twigs".
Chris Krauss, of East Wilton and MaineWoodNet and once part of the SugarWood Gallery cooperative, planned to share display space for her Native Woods' live-edge furniture line with Aardvark Outfitters in 2008.
Wes Herman, owner of nine Woods Coffee stores in Whatcom County, uses his Birch Bay store to showcase his live-edge tables handmade from fallen, dried trees gathered over the years. "The live edge is the actual natural edge where the bark has been removed," he said. Adding "We design them and they are locally made from native Whatcom County wood."
Andy and Aaron Sanchez, Native New Mexican artist redefine rustic and western art by preserving the natural beauty of the wood
Groovystuff, a Dallas-based manufacturer of residential furnishings audited by the Forest Stewardship Council
Forest Stewardship Council
The Forest Stewardship Council is an international not-for-profit, multi-stakeholder organization established in 1993 to promote responsible management of the world’s forests. Its main tools for achieving this are standard setting, independent certification and labeling of forest products...
, crafts furniture from reclaimed teak wood and teak the root bulbs. The company introduced a line of "made in America" wrought iron
Wrought iron
thumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon...
frames from Charleston Forge
Charleston Forge
Charleston Forge is a hand-crafted metal and wooden furniture manufacturer in Boone, North Carolina. Based in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Charleston Forge's artisans use a combination of traditional blacksmithing techniques and new technologies...
combined with the live edge teakwood tops in 2007.
Lou Quallenberg Studios, located in the Texas Hill Country
Texas Hill Country
The Texas Hill Country is a vernacular term applied to a region of Central Texas featuring tall rugged hills consisting of thin layers of soil atop limestone or granite. It also includes the Llano Uplift and the second largest granite monadnock in the United States, Enchanted Rock, which is located...
, uses live edge design for its mesquite
Mesquite
Mesquite is a leguminous plant of the Prosopis genus found in northern Mexico through the Sonoran Desert and Chihuahuan Deserts, and up into the Southwestern United States as far north as southern Kansas, west to the Colorado Desert in California,and east to the eastern fifth of Texas, where...
furnishings and incorporates natural cracks, crevices, and insect holes, sometimes decorating them with inlaid gem-quality turquoise or bits of gold.