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R.A. Laufer

Craft, Visual / Media

To me, working wood is an absorbing challenge. It is taking heavy, rough lumber --wood that might seem outwardly unappealing-- and opening that lumber up: Cutting, shaping, planing, sanding, and smoothing until the wood is transformed into what I think is a beautiful and useful object, while still keeping the essence of the wood alive.

About the Artist

Self taught craft artist and maker of bespoke hand-sculpted furniture inspired by the natural beauty of wood

R.A. Laufer website Rick Laufer Art + Design Studio

Featured Work

Photos

Wave Bench is a study in curves and angles. The seat is thick black walnut, angle cut in the center, rejoined with a series of tenons and splines creating its distinctive wave. The rail under the seat is curved at a reverse angle to the seat. The base is walnut slab, split and tied by cherry bands.
I was thinking of fast Italian cars when I designed this sleek, highly sculpted chair. Shown here in black walnut with cherry accents, the chair features a deeply scooped seat and a swooping crest that cradles the back. Walnut side rails offer support as well as appeal.
Spindleback library chair in cherry and curly maple, with fluted crest rail and deeply sculpted seat
I listen to music while I work, often vintage rock, and this chair started with an old Beatles tune. Got me thinking about birds, with their curved and tilted wings. The resulting Blackbird Chair recalls a bird, stopping in mid-flight, startled, about to reverse direction, swooping in to land.
Straight grained black walnut bench, supporting a floating top made of a shimmery curly maple that seems to ripple in the light. Exposed joinery and maple pegs on the frame accent the piece.
Hand sculpted rocking chair in black walnut with contoured cherry spindle back and shaped laminated rockers.