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woodezine - Volume
III - Issue I - January 2005
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Furniture Builder of
the Month
Sponsored by Village Originals
Per Brandstedt
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Per Brandstedt has been building fine cabinetry and boxes in Mariestad, Sweden since 1983. He undertakes both private and public commissions, and his work has been exhibited and collected around the world. He has studied his craft in Europe, Australia and the US., and both taught and studied woodworking in Japan for a year. Curiousity and creativity are his watchwords. The Brandstedt workshop is located in the tiny and ancient village of Kjeckestad, which is 7 kilometers (about 4 miles) south of the city of Mariestad, a popular tourist venue on lake Vanern. Beginning at the southern shore, Kjeckestad is about 1/3 of the way up the length of Sweden, almost in the middle of the country. |
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Elm and Horsehair Dish
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Known for unique design, excellent craftsmanship
and fine detailing, Per draws his inspiration from "the vast field
of possibilities the crafts offer, when creating individually shaped
objects of wood." His choice of materials, surface qualities, composition,
detail and ornament are all significant elements of each and every design.
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He uses an oil finish that, combined with the beautifully-worked surfaces of his pieces, leaves "a sensation in the hand that has touched them, that becomes a lasting memory". Scandinavian hardwoods, locally grown, are his primary materials. They offer a varied selection of timbers that is ideally suited to his work. Per believes that hand craftsmanship, designed with and complemented by sensitive choices in material, form and detail, is a vital alternative to industrially mass-produced objects. |
Oak Chair with Leather Seat
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Detail from a Mahogany Coffee Table
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This exquisite detail of a curved dovetail joint (at left) is an example of Per's attention to detail, and creative approach to traditional joinery. |
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When embarking on a furniture commission, each of Per's clients actively participates in the design process. This guarantees that the customer receives a unique piece of work designed and built to suit a specific space. Per is not adverse to traditional design, but he does like to imbue it with his own vision. The beautiful trestle table at right features a drop-leaf design that, in conjunction with swiveling legs, offers the user a wide range of set-up options. The piece can be set against a wall, or command center stage in a large room. |
Pine Drop-leaf Table
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Curly Birch Sewing Box
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Not everything Per builds is large-scale furniture. Some of his accent pieces, such as the sewing box at left and the spline-mitered pentagonal box at right, pack a whole lot of drama into some very small spaces. |
Maple Box
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Cherry Display Case
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From cabinetry to chairs, Per's Swedish heritage and world travels combine to deliver a unique, eye-pleasing style that brings out the very best in those slow-growing northern hardwoods. |
Elm chair
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A gallery at Per's workshop is open to the public for three hours on most Saturdays, and at other times upon request. Groups of up to 25 people are accommodated in the evenings and weekends. An organized paid visitor program includes demonstration of the workshop and store, short lectures, a slide show and some time for questions and answers. A light meal is served in the garden (weather permitting), or else in the workshop. |
Workshop
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| Per Brandstedt is planning a trip to the US in the late 2005 or 2006 and is "looking for interresting places, workshops, galleries, shows, fairs, museums, schools, and people involved in the woodcrafts and wood arts fields" to visit. He also is interested in showing his work in the US, and sharing his experience of Scandinavian woodwork with American woodworkers, craftsmen, artist and students. If you'd like to contact Per about possible opportunities, please send him an e-mail. |
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