Posted on 05/23/2009 12:29:52 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (AP) -- Sam Maloof, whose simple, practical handmade wooden furniture sits in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the White House, has died. He was 93.
Maloof died Thursday at his Southern California home, his business manager Boz Bock told the Los Angeles Times. No further details were given.
Maloof was praised for putting usefulness before artistry in the chairs, cradles, hutches and other pieces he designed and crafted by hand.
Maloof's signature piece was a rocking chair with elongated rockers jutting backward.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I always marveled at the skills of some and how they could seemingly mold and carve and sand wood into art. My Dad’s Dad was a decent carver, me? Got Curad?
RIP and Rock on, Sam
he used no metal hardware or nails supposedly, must have had some really good glue.
what a lyrical rocking chair and baby cradle- lyrical , lyrical, what style!
Making it to 93 is worth a thread in itself. He was pretty handy with his hands and his head.
“he used no metal hardware or nails supposedly, must have had some really good glue.”
....early furniture makers used pegs....in some applications the secret was to peg together semi-cured wood with a seasoned dowel...as the wood dried it would shrink up tight against the peg....timber framers did the same thing....I’ve got a cabinet that’s been in our family for over 200 years...not a nail or screw in it.
It’s wonderful when a man (or woman) can take a bit of stuff from the forest and create a work of art both beautiful and functional. No doubt he’s now creating furniture for the many mansions upstairs.
I was a original subscriber to Fine Woodworking, Home Building, Gardening, Cooking and any other Fine Magazines and yes I still have all 750# of the copies...
You should drag your cabinet to the next Antique Roadshow in your area. :-)
I marvel at the inlaid work that was done as well.
Great thread! There are few craftsmen with his skill these days. The real craftsmen use in-letting, dovetails and dowels.
sounds like a fire hazard.. lol
I have about 40 years of National Geographic stacked up in my room.. finally chucked a pile of science and history magazines..
ever read “WOODEN BOAT” (magazine)?
Oh, my, what a gorgeous piece of furniture! And practical, too! I really could have used that when my twins were little! LOL!
They don’t make anything like he did in China or Vietnam.
Ere she try the depths of sea.
Seashell frail for all her stoutness,
Unless Thou her Helmsman be.
I hacked and slathered my way through two of Phillip Bolger's "instant boat" designs but never had the skill to tackle the really nice designs such as the ones made at the Wooden Boat School. The prayer above is inscribed over the door of the school.
Not so. The rocker/cradle pic in #3 uses LOTS of screws. See all the dark plugs?. Every one hides a screw; most likely a large sheet metal screw.
Maloof developed a joint made with a router that was detailed in Fine Woodworking many years ago. The strength of the joint is from lots of contact area and an exquisite fit. The screw keeps it tight.
I read 3 or 4 of them but it was beyond my pay grade...
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