Bentwood Tables

My awareness of steam-bent and laminated wood began with a wooden tennis racquet, which I still think is a beautiful artifact. Long fascination with wooden boat construction exposed me to bent and laminated ribs that provide precise shape and great strength-to-weight ratio. In my formative years I admired the chairs of Alvar Aalto and Sam Maloof, which incorporated bent lamination. My idea was to use this process of steam bending and laminating to build in three dimensions and to make an entire structure of one continuous line. I built a steam box and construction jigs for the first bent and laminated walnut Starr Table in 2009. Since then, as my techniques have improved, I have experimented with several wood species and continue to build new shapes. Each piece is light, strong, open, and contributes dynamic curves to any space.

A glass topped bentwood coffee table with five continuous loops of steam bent and laminated black walnut. The glass top rests on the loops which are shaped like upside-down drops. The loops rise from the points of a pentagon resting on the floor.

Foiver in natural walnut

A sculptural wooden side table with a glass top. The base is a continuous line of steam-bent bleached maple. The wood forms the outline of a square resting on a tic-tac-toe base with four integrated loops rising from the corners to support the top.

Bentwood Tables are made to order.

For standard sizes available on the Shop page, delivery is four weeks. For custom configurations, delivery is eight to twelve weeks.

Each table is as individual as a tree. For each table the wood is selected for its color and figure - and suitability for bending - to make a beautiful piece for you to enjoy for years to come.

XO in bleached maple

Bentwood tables are customizable.

The dimensions, wood species, finish, and even the glass can be customized to fit a specific space. Seven configurations are available on the Shop page in walnut, cherry, iron-stained oak, and iron-stained walnut. Other hardwoods, like maple, can be steam bent when a light color is desired.

A modern sculptural side table with a glass top. The base is a continuous line of steam-bent walnut. The wood forms the outline of an equilateral triangle resting on the floor with three integrated arcs rising from the corners to support the top.

Trefoil in natural walnut

glass edge and thickness options

Glass tops are available with a polished edge or a bevel on some shapes. Some glass tops can be 3/4 inch thick if a weightier look is desired.

All table tops are tempered glass.

A sculptural wooden coffee table with a rectangular glass top. The base is a continuous line of steam-bent iron-stained oak. The wood forms a long rectangle resting on two feet with four integrated loops rising from the corners to support the top.

Stretch XO in iron-stained oak

Bentwood tables have a hand rubbed oil finish.

After sanding, each table is finished with a series of hand rubbed oil mixtures made in the wood shop. The base layers penetrate the wood surface for a deep finish. The finish builds with each layer and the final layers use a mixture that cures to a protective, smooth surface. Bleached maple tables are the exception, receiving a water based finish to resist yellowing over time.

Penrose in iron-stained oak

Iron stain blackens some wood species.

Iron-stain finishes are a chemical reaction between the tannins present in some hardwoods and a vinegar based concoction made in the wood shop. When applied prior to the oil finish, the wood turns black if it contains sufficient tannins.

A sculptural wooden coffee table with a glass top. The base is a continuous line of steam-bent warm, brown walnut. The wood forms the outline of a hexagon resting on the floor with six integrated loops rising from the corners to support the top.

Starr Table in natural walnut

New bentwood shapes take time

I am always thinking of what else is possible with the bentwood tables. Once a shape is in mind, the process of construction begins by designing a jig that will support the warm, supple strips and allow access from all the angles necessary to clamp layer upon layer of wood. The jig determines the structure to a point and the rest is like handwriting - the hand and the particular pen (or board in this case) drawing each curve.

A sculptural wooden console table with a framed glass top. The base is a continuous coil of steam-bent walnut. Each of the three turns of the coil is connected to two runners on the floor and the frame of the top.

3 Coil Console table in natural walnut