Heirloom Craftsmanship
The July issue of Wood Magazine has an interesting article that holds credence to the level of craftsmanship we find in many things today, whether it’s our houses or the furniture we put in them. The article, written by Bob Wilson and Megan Stotmeister, is entitled “Crafting Keepsake Furniture in a Throwaway World.”
The gist of the article is an answer to the question “Is it worth it to spend hours in the workshop handcrafting your own furniture when you can find instant gratification with trendy, relatively low-cost furniture from a store?”
One of my children answers this question from the same viewpoint that many Wood Magazine readers did. She says handcrafted furniture has spoiled her. She looks at furniture her friends have purchased from well-reputed, expensive companies and finds it no where near the quality of pieces made by her brothers, father and grandfather.
Once again, my child is right (such is the case with parenthood).
In today’s throwaway world, as the article says, furniture is massed produced with staples, fiberboard and melamine. Even the so-called “finer” furniture from expensive stores is often constructed with lesser-quality woods and poor joinery. “Disposable furniture” is a term the article uses to describe this furniture and the reality that within five to seven years it will need to be replaced.
Compare that to a piece made by a hobbiest or professional artisan who spends days, weeks, even months choosing the right wood, carefully cutting and joining parts, and finishing with multiple layers of a durable coating. This piece shows pride in workmanship. It’s a labor of love. And not only has the artisan created something that will last during his or her lifetime, it will also become a treasured heirloom to those following.