A love of wood and an appreciation for beautiful proportions of fine early furniture in America provided the incentive for me to become a dedicated craftsman of furniture heirlooms of tomorrow. I have passionately pursued this art form for more than four decades.
A piece of fine furniture is judged and valued for its attractiveness and strength. A well-made piece of furniture will withstand lifetimes of use; the years appreciating its value rather than depreciating it. How two more pieces of wood are joined together influences both the majesty and strength of the finished piece; and hence its value. The merging of wooden parts- (the joinery) – contributes to the eye catching lines and elegant curves of a particular piece. For example, functional artistry demands that the fan-shaped wedges of a dovetail, whether hidden inside the drawer or incorporated into the casework of a piece contribute to its longevity while also enhancing its good looks and value.
In using traditional methods of joinery, such as the mortise and tenon joint, I am drawing upon the experience of past craftsmen and using techniques from hundreds of years ago. Traditional methods of joinery have survived down through the ages because they provide the same kind of form and function today as the day they originated. It is hard to improve upon these works, even with the implementation of modern tools and machinery. Joining wood together by these methods requires both time and skill. A poorly fitted joint can destroy the integrity of the entire piece. Building fine recreations of early American furniture requires assiduous attention to detail. Because of this, along with the hurried pace of modern life, the art of fine craftsmanship is rapidly disappearing. Building re-creation furniture the way I do simply cannot be rushed. Time is an essential ingredient in anything of quality.
The most important consideration to me in building a piece of furniture is not the issue of the time involved in making it. The issue for me is that of quality and how well a piece will withstand the ravages of time. It is about the merging of form with function. That is why my hand crafted “re-creation” furniture costs more than furniture that is fashioned on an assembly line by lesser skilled workers and using man made materials.
It requires a practiced eye to recognize the subtle differences between the ordinary and the extraordinary. The more knowledgeable that one is about how a piece of furniture is constructed, the more they will appreciate the quality and level of skill that goes into it. I stake my reputation that you will be pleased with every piece of furniture I make.
The care and skill of our builders is reflected in everything we make. The result is pieces that you will be proud to own and display in your home; furniture that, like a work of art, increases in value with time.
Sincerely,
Lawrence Crouse