Last year March, I was looking for the ideal piece of walnut for the apron and legs on a writing desk that I had drafted. I was ready to start building, but needed that awesome piece of wood, so I started inquiring at Collector's Specialty Woods. What a sight when they emailed pictures of a walnut slab that had been there for many years. What a beauty it was! I got the impression that it had been around for so long because the vision for the slab was a mantle or to use it whole. I was quite desperate for a large, thick piece of walnut for the thick apron and legs on a writing desk. Between me and the sales staff at CS Woods, we decided the large, thick slab of walnut would be mine.
My “Angel” writing desk has an elliptical top. Tiger maple encompasses the entire elliptical desk top. The desk apron and legs are crafted out of the walnut slab purchased at Collector's Specialty Woods. The desk apron sections are 1 ¼” thick solid walnut, each beveled 15 degrees from their outer edge. The apron sections embrace only the major axis of the elliptical top. Signature curved legs are attached to each of the four individual apron sections. Tiger maple is cunningly exposed through the apron breaks and on the front and back sides of the desk. Thanks to this beautiful piece of walnut from CS Woods, my writing desk won the Exhibitor’s Choice Award at the Western Design Conference last September in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Large, choice pieces of the walnut slab remain in my shop for that “special” future design in wood. Walnut is one of my woods of choice as seen in the photos here.
Blase Mathern Jr. - The Wood Maestro - Wellington, CO |
