woodezine - Volume III - Issue VII - JULY 2005

Furniture Builder of the Month
Sponsored by Chipsfly.com

Thomas Throop

"I came to design furniture through the making process.
Wood, a material of great character, depth and warmth,
drove my curiosity. It was the romance that got me."

Thomas Throop was born on September 15, 1964, and grew up in New Canaan, Connecticut, where he attended public schools. His earliest exposure to world-class design was through local residences created by the great architects Marcel Breuer and Philip Johnson, as well as during numerous visits to such historic American landmarks as Monticello, Colonial Williamsburg and distinguished Hudson River houses. As a boy, Tom was fond of drawing. He had his first lessons in woodworking from a great uncle, a professional boatbuilder, when the two constructed a kayak from raw lumber. Tom attended Connecticut College in New London, where he majored in economics. He remained true to his artistic nature by minoring in photography, and he also took a number of art history courses. After graduating with a BA degree in 1986, Throop and his brother bought an 1830s Greek Revival house in upstate New York and, learning as they went, restored it. They made every attempt to use the same methods the builders of the house originally employed, and their painstaking craftsmanship earned them the 1988 Award for Best House Restoration in Washington County.  
In 1990, Throop moved to Dorset, England for a two-year program at the John Makepeace School for Craftsmen in Wood, where Makepeace, one of England's finest contemporary furniture makers, taught a small number of students the art and craft of handbuilding furniture. Since returning to the United States in 1992, Throop has specialized in designing and building furniture that has won numerous awards. His work has been featured in several publications, as well as being purchased for significant public and private collections both in this country and the UK. Thomas Throop resides in Rowayton, Connecticut with his wife, Kelley, an attorney.

Sample Gallery of Tom's Work...

BarneyÕs Foyer Table
Maple, Redwood veneer, Ebonized walnut
w 30" x d 15" x h 32".

 

Colebrook Stereo Cabinet
Walnut, Plum Pudding Mahogany, Holly Inlay
w24" x d24" x h48"


"I have gained an understanding of wood as a living thing,
one that changes with the seasons and climate."

Durham Cabinet
Cherry, Pippy Elm, Bog Oak

Lander Cabinet
Butternut, Bog Oak, Walnut
W 17" X D 17" X H 22"

  

Marcato Music Stand
Walnut, Birdseye Maple, Copper
w 22" x d 18" x h 32"
Extends to a height of 44"

"To add depth and play to a design, I often combine rare woods of strong figure such as burls, curls and flecks with those of more common grain patterns. On occasion I incorporate contrasting materials such as slate and granite into designs to counterbalance the wood."

 


"Wood intrigues me. I find it deep, rich, and full of character.
At times it is easily malleable; and at other times it can be hard and unforgiving."

"Mayer" Slate Cabinet
Walnut, Bird's-eye Maple, Slate
w 24" x d 17"x h 71 "

 

Pinepoint Side Table
Bubinga, Quilted Maple
w 21" x d 21" x h 23 "

 

"Mayer" Cresent Table
Bubinga, Quilted Maple, Ebony
w 44" x d 20" x h 26"

"The design and structure of my furniture is a reflection of who I am and what I am thinking at a given time. The freedom to conceive and create my own pieces reveals a joy at being connected to the tradition of craftsmanship in furniture making. When my work is used by others, I would like to think that they, too, have connected with me and with the craft as a whole."


Contact the Artist

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