Unsung Heroes

Was'nt sure where to put this post but as it has more to do with bonsai than any other section on this site, here it is! Im displaying a tree at the Caplel Manor show, this coming Sunday.The tree is a Sloe, previously posted here.I needed a stand made and asked a good friend of mine if he'd have a go. Given the pot dimensions and a rough idea of height etc, etc,he got to work. The table is made from Cherry and finihed with laquer.In Books and at shows you see credits for the owner of the tree and the pot maker but never the stand. Therefore a big shout out going to Peter Sandford, who made this for me and all the other craftsmen, endeavouring to put our trees on a pedestal. Cheers!!

That looks absolutely divine, Will. Please do post a pic of the table with your tree on it after the Capel Manor show so we can see the full glory.

You're right about the "unsung heroes" that are table/stand makers. Up here, Dougie Smith of Wattston Bonsai is our mainstay of the art. Having watched him at work on tables for myself and others, I know the time, effort and sheer craftsmanship that goes into it. This is no mass-produced operation - each one is, cliche as it may seem, unique. The only thing that perhaps upstages his display tables is the superb guitars he hand makes.

So, hear hear to what you are saying Will.

Nice looking craftsmanship and nice proportions also on the stand.

Thanks Fiona and Rob, I'll pass your kind comments on to Peter. I love it!!! Maybe we can use this thread to thank as many table / stand makers and give them the recognition they truly deserve.

will baddeley wrote:Thanks Fiona and Rob, I'll pass your kind comments on to Peter. I love it!!! Maybe we can use this thread to thank as many table / stand makers and give them the recognition they truly deserve.

cracking table will i look forward to seeing it at the show-
i hope you get a favourable draw for your display space,

fancy being a judge next year?

I'd love to be a judge next year Steve. I'll definately win that year!!!

Will,

Not always unsung http://artofbonsai.org/galleries/keppler.php



Nice stand shown, great workmanship!


Will

Thanks for that Will. Was hoping for some pics and names for this thread? We have some great makers over here,so how about elsewhere!!!

And now representing America!
Great stand Will! Nice job by your friend Peter!
www.holmesfinefurniture.com
Geof

Sean Smith from Marysville PA, USA has made some very nice stands (and daiza)...unfortunately his website is rife with broken links at the moment!
http://bonsai-suiseki.com/suiseki.html

Thanks for your post Geof. Who made them? In a recent post I said I find it difficult to relate to the Japanese criteria for display. I like to think my new stand is simplistic,maybe Shaker? We have so many influences we can draw from. Arts and crafts, Art deco/ nuveau, the 60's etc. etc . People are proving in recent posts, their ability to think outside the box and i'm sure we can make a formal display that we as individual cultures, can understand. More pictures please.

Hi Will,
I made the stands. I am a furnituremaker by day amature bonsai artist by night! HA HA!
I agree with your feeling about display and stands. There are many styles of furniture. So why not make different stands.
I think it is good to be different if we all do the same thing it becomes a bore.
Look what Kimura did to Bonsai trees. That shook things up!
Geof

I make stands for my own use. It was actually wood working that got me interested in bonsai. Over the years I posted photos but here are a couple revisits.

The stand on the left is made of Caribbean Rosewood from a tree felled during a hurricane. The cascade stand is Black Walnut.



Close up of the one on the right


Close up of the one on the left




A wide stand recently made from walnut.


A medium size stand with carved legs. Most of my stands feature some carving so that they don't appear to be straight off the table saw.



Another one. Mahogany.




I've made quite a few shohin stands. All the stands in this photo came from my shop. Various woods - walnut, mahogany, rosewood, cherry, live oak burl.




This one is pretty nice. Walnut with sapalle vennered top.



A large stand with two dragons and the family coat of arms carved into each side - very time consuming.


Years ago I made this Georgia Tech chair.

Hi Will,

you have 100% right, even the carpenters are great artists.

Hi Rob,

those are incredible masterpieces, you have my respect.

Best regards
Peter

Thanks for your posts everyone but this is'nt really what I had in mind for this post. We all use this forum for the occasional pat on the back and I have no problem with that. This thread was placed to sing praise to the craftsmen and artists who dont generally get a mention, Not for self promotion purposes! I know of four stand/ table makers in the U.K but have no pictures of their work. The aforementioned Peter Sandford and Dougie Smith, Doug Mudd and Nick Pearce. Anyone got any pics of their work, so we can thank them properly? I am sure I will have left some makers out and I apologise.

Will,
Sorry I thought you had wanted other stand photos. I did not realize you were looking for other UK makers.

Rob,
Lots of nice details on your stands. I like the carving on the end of the leg and the inside curve where the apron meets the leg.
I find it hard to get back what time and effort I have put into my stands. I donated one to a club auction and it sold for 40.00.
I try to keep them simple to make with a good design. I am glad you make them for yourself then you can put as much in to them as you want.
I have also thought some about making a stand simple and flat black like a museum mount so the stand almost dissappears. Some think they are to much and over power the tree. Nice work!
Geof

Geof, Im sorry I did'nt explain myself very well . When I said U.K makers I did'nt mean them exclusively, they just happen to be the ones I know. I want to see and hear from every continent. You and Rob are making some excelent stuff.

will baddeley wrote:Geof, Im sorry I did'nt explain myself very well . When I said U.K makers I did'nt mean them exclusively, they just happen to be the ones I know. I want to see and hear from every continent. You and Rob are making some excelent stuff.

There are amazing Asian style stands made obviously in Asia but the makers there get no recognition as far as I can tell. Many of the stands are antique and the makers long since gone. Other stand makers work under what an American would consider intolerable conditions with exposed unsafe saw blades, poor lighting, unhealthy ventilation and cramped shops - yet they make nice stuff for very low prices.

Check out the link of wood workers in Vietnam.
http://www.antiquetools.com/viet/vietdonky.html

Here are a few examples of Dougie Smith's work. These are ones he has made for me, and what I like is that he takes the trouble to design the table/stand round the tree(s) it is intended for.

Table 22" x 14" x 6"




Table 12" x 12" x 16"




Table 24" x 19" x 5"




Table 26" x 19" x 5"

And:

Shohin Stand




Shohin Stand




The last stand (that wasn't actually deliberate) with its usual inhabitants





At the British Shohin Association annual show 2008

Thanks Fiona, some lovely and unusual stands. Great work in a deco style.

Went to the Capel Manor show on Sunday and as promised a pic of my display with the stand. Thanks again Peter