Koa Dresser
Commissioned 2007
Koa and European Plane
Tung oil finish
26” wide x 22” deep x 38” tall
This Koa was felled and rough milled over 30 years ago on a Macadamia nut farm near Milolii, a small coastal village on the Big Island in Hawaii. Both the Koa and European Plane were stored in Sun Valley, Idaho then forgotten until 2007. The European Plane legs are laminated and turned to 2 tapers, providing the unique shape and exposing the vibrant grain pattern hidden in this wood. The gentle curve of the top repeats in the lower drawer front, back and side panels. The European Plane drawers feature hand cut dovetails, shellac finish and are mounted on I” over-travel ball bearing slides. Contains 2 secret compartments.
Viewer Comments:
Very nice indeed, I like that it curves, I'm not big on square boxy styles.
Exquisite. Is the top sculpted or is the back curved; photo hard to tell. Also, the sides of the top, it's hard to see what you did, but it also looks sculpted in some way. Beautiful design. I love the two tapers in the legs and the curved top in the side panels and, again, the sculpting in the top of the panels. Beautiful execution.
Actually the top turned out to be a stupid mistake gone right which for me may have been a once in a lifetime occurrence! I glued up the top with ¾” Koa but when I set it on the case it was far too thin, poor proportions. I wanted to make the top 1-1/2” thick but I needed what Koa I had left for another project. I ripped a couple of pieces for the sides and crosscut some end cuts for the front and back. Without thinking (a talent of mine) I just glued them on the lower edge. When I came back a couple of hours later I had a curved top. Amazingly it matched the curves on the panels. Talk about lucking out! The top of the case is flat so I ripped a couple of pieces to extended the sides and cut little saddles for the front and back. The client liked the curved top, I kept my mouth shut.
