Interview With Artisans Ofthe Valley - Part 2
[Continued from Part 1]
I notice that you rely heavily 18th century tools for your work. Why did you decide to go this route?
Our goal is to create reproduction and original design furniture that rivals the work of the great masters of the Early American and European periods. Their work was clearly handmade, reflecting the subtle nuances of each carver that became known as a “Carver’s Signature.”
To succeed at this objective, we must employ the tools of these past masters craftsman. There is no steel made today that matches the quality and edge capabilities of high carbon cast steel that peaked in production during the 19th century. Steel of this nature will accept a razor edge, hold it for a reasonable working period, and has the necessary flexibility vs. hardness characteristics to withstand the constant pressure, pounding, and twisting the tool is subjected to while digging in to precisely shave hardwood fibers. It is critical that the tool must cut and not tear these fibers to create a clean crisp line or smooth surface. Modern tools simply don’t cut the same as cast steel tools.
Artisans has a collection of working antique carving tools that rivals Williamsburg. Each tool carries with it a history, and as described by my father’s teacher C.N. Grinnell “the vibrations of past carvers.” This develops an unconscious connection to the masters to whom we pay our respects with the artistic creations we produce today.
What’s the most rewarding part of your work?
The legacy of an artist stands through time only when their work survives long enough to reach the hands of furniture generations. We produce furniture, carvings and sculptures burned with their signatures. When our skills are recognized by a value placed by antique collectors of the 22nd century, our work will have succeeded in extending our presence in this world beyond our time.
What were some of your favorite pieces/projects?
My favorite pieces of furniture fall within our “New Wave Gothic” line. This is an original creation molding Gothic, Renaissance, Tudor, Jacobean, with a twist of Mission and Country styles. Furniture that is substantial while still maintaining elegance.
I enjoy the wildlife carvings the most of all our carvings, scenes that create views into the natural world. This is where I can blend where I spend time outside the shop with actual permanent artwork.
How does producing period furniture and restoring antiques differ from producing conventional pieces?
Conventional mass production furniture is disposable junk. When design, materials, and fabrication procedures are based upon bottom line and production efficiency all true aesthetic, functional, and durability is lost. Finishes are applied using fast dry spray techniques and chemicals that not only hide the natural beauty of the wood but generally have a lifespan from ten to twenty-five years.
Artisans of the Valley is producing the antiques of tomorrow. Our pieces are designed and built using the best joynery, materials, and techniques to develop structures that will last hundreds of years. We take time to ensure quality; we do not cut corners or gain efficiency at the cost of integrity.
Our finishes are hand rubbed shellac and tung oil varnish, atop a penetrating stain. This process enhances and pronounces the natural beauty of wood, developing into a deep hard finish that when properly maintained will list the life of the piece.
Ultimately a fine crafted piece of furniture is an environmentally sound investment, as once the resources are utilized including materials, finishing, transportation, and processing the piece will last generations. There is little chance our furniture will ever end up in a land fill. Modern mass produced pieces will after a short life become yet another bulk item that will blight our environment.
Antique restoration also falls to a very green practice. Bringing new life to existing furniture avoids the use of new lumber, thus all the resources required to fall and process trees years ago are not wasted. Antique and collectable pieces are often higher quality construction using old growth materials that are in some cases not even available today.
Furniture restoration is a green alternative to replacing your existing furniture, but what happens when there’s nothing to restore? When a new piece of furniture is required there are a variety of options that allow us to provide our clients with new environmentally sound furniture and artistic carvings.
From our perspective, sustainable forestry practices ensure that our business has a future. It is our responsibility as craftsmen to not only pass on our skills but leave behind a planet where our apprentices can sustain their. Artisans is striving to ensure that all our lumber suppliers purchase from sustainable sources. Our goal is that the tree supplies the materials for your project is replaced with a new tree through select cutting and replanting under the close supervision of forestry management specialists or the tree comes from a local harvest where the cutting was necessary and imminent.
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to start out their own conservation studio?
True conservation is far more sophisticated than refinishing. The skills required to do the physical work may be the same, but the knowledge of period design, finishing, structure, veneer, and other factors is critical. Bringing a piece back to its original form, chemically treating finishes, blending materials, all the steps required to regain and original condition are night and day from strip and spray techniques. You need to study period furniture, understand how to build and finish an antique then reverse engineer a piece subject to conservation to determine how to best bring it back to its original condition. There is far more to handling valuable pieces than what comes from refinishing a few pieces for friends and family; seek an apprenticeship or to study under a master restorer before you take on customers projects.
What do you feel made you successful?
A variety of skills combine for success, running a woodworking restoration and custom furniture studio is not simply based on the skills and talents required to do the physical work. Marketing, business operations, logistics, sales, accounting, legal, purchasing, scheduling, management, and all business functions are required to sustain a successful studio. What has taken Artisans to be a successful high end studio is I have the combination of these skills from various experiences in life that have allowed me to build our reputation, repeatedly sell our commissions and restoration services, and develop long term relationships for the resources required to sustain our operations. All of this combined with a tenacity and inability to give up, generally forces things to move forward and ultimately goals are achieved.
What were some of the mistakes that you’ve made over the years?
Trying speculative restoration has proven to be a waste of time, working for a possible sale is nowhere near as profitable as working to restore a piece directly for a customer.
Do not pander to a customer’s every whim, develop a contract and stick with it. Every woodworker has taken on projects and allowed too many changes, too much interaction, and too much influence over the project. Learn to draw and hold clear scopes in each project.
Do not modify furniture beyond its original design; almost every pro has made the mistake of attempting that and ended with less than desirable results in far more time than originally planned.
Do not undervalue your work – demand the value of your time, skill, and name in everything you do. Undervaluing our work will never serve towards a positive end.
Which air tools do you own?
Artisans is generally a traditional 18th century style studio in terms of design, joynery, use of solid wood, carving, and finishing techniques. The reality of business sets in and that means the ability to produce a quality original piece within a reasonable timeframe is critical.
Our air tool collection is somewhat limited, we have an array of air nailers, impact tools and air ratchets for shop equipment maintenance, and the basic array of small cutters, chisels, and a few spray guns.
Which ones are your favorites?
Favorite tools are probably the air nailers; they just save a lot of time for any case good work, securing moldings to allow the adhesive to cure, etc.
What do you look for in an air tool?
In any tool quality, durability, and precision are all eye. We need a tool that is reliable and that will deliver consistent results to ensure our work is up to our quality standards.
Eric M. Saperstein
Master Craftsman
Artisans of the Valley
Furniture Restoration and Custom Furniture
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