Walnut stand

I am a furniture maker professional, bonsai hobbiest. Lately I have been fortunate enough to work with Ryan Neil to develop some Bonsai stands to showcase his trees for the upcoming Artisans Cup here in Portland. Here is some images of the first stand, tree and photos are by Ryan Neil.



tree with stand


stand alone- couldn't help the pun

stand from above

Love to hear opinions.
Thanks,

Austin
[url=http://www.fivefifthsfurniture.com]

Beautiful stand and a great match for the tree. Really like the use of a top with I presume natural defects, particularly contrasting with the rest of the stand that is pristine. I notice that the legs are edged with a bullnose rather than a half round. I wonder if a half round might better match the curves on the upper part of the stand.

outSTANDing

Thought the workmanship was VERY nice and shape and tree bond well. Didn't know what to think of the open spaces on the table's deck? Maybe after decades of use it will seem more appropriate...as an indication of age.

Thanks everyone for the responses.
Marty, I really never considered the half round option, thanks for bringing that up, I do believe the the rounded feet do add a lightness and upward lift that accentuates the movement in the tree.
Dick, the open spaces are intended to evoke a kind of suiseki like feeling, contrasting with the control the rest of the stand attempts to impose on nature. It also serves to reinforce the directional movement of the tree. Those were, at least, the intentions it is up to the viewer if it is successful or not. I believe in furniture, as in bonsai, it is sometimes best to leave natures special gifts unaltered, although this is not for everyone.

blown

away



the natural defect in the deck is absolutely stunning and truly enhances that work of art.
both with and without the tree, that stand is beautiful.

(sorry for gushing)

I agree Kevin, couldn't have said it better.

Excellent artisanship. Please share more of your excellent vision and work.

Original, skilled with wood and design principles creation. Very well done and incredibly stylish! BUT, and you can call me low brow and that's alright,(I do really like it), but it's a table with holes in it!

sorry for gushing

Don't be, this display stand is an incredible piece of craftsmanship! Certainly worthy of a good, frothy-at-the mouth, ode to it's beauty!

I think the fun of most japanese hobbies, is what "school" you studied with (so many) and what you yourself feel comfortable with.

I like the holes in the stand from an artistic view but it goes against the picture frame complex, outshining the actual artwork. As opposed to be subserviant
to it.

I find myself in my gathering of "toko" display info, to keep running into myself with "knowledge". LOL

A few months back, the comment was "I'm not japanese" and I can appreciate more and more that mentality...except that in my 35 years of Koi, if i learned anything,it was to learn the japanese way for knowledge and then deviate according to who you have become, thier knowledge your own gifts. along the way. So I think and act that way in both my display and stone hobbies.

dick,

I appreciate your comments and find them totally valid, it is an interesting argument with no real answer or solution. Some find that frustrating, for my that is what I appreciate about art- there is convention and any deviation from that is expected to be met with both criticism and praise. There is the simple matter of "does this work", which is also subjective- as for the picture window idea many ornate japanese stands can be thought of outshining the trees upon them, I don't think the voids in the top instantly fall into this realm, there surely is a debate there weather or not the voids work. Thanks for your thoughtful comments.