Irreparable loss stool

Exploring the vernacular of destruction by fire in the home.  The illusion of security; all the objects we hold dear stay behind when we leave. What is truly precious?

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Craftsman style furniture resonates with me on a deeply nostalgic level. My childhood home was of the lodge style, and was adorned with Stickley, Greene and Greene, and Amish furniture. The stool is made from red cedar and spalted salvaged oak. There are no metal fasteners.



Having lived through the Northridge Earthquake in 1993, the experience of having to flee my home in the middle of the night and leave all of my possessions behind has never left me. Our house suffered irreparable damage and eventually had to be demolished and reconstructed.



I use the fire as a metaphor for the destruction caused by the earthquake. By employing the shou sugi ban charring techniques to preserve it, the wood becomes stronger and more impervious to damage. Though traumatic, the earthquake ultimately brought my family closer together. Alluding to this, the structure of the stool is sound - built with mortise and tenon and biscuit joints, but the top is precariously held atop the frame.


In the natural world, fire brings death as well as rejuvenation. A dichotomy that is seemingly at odds with itself.  The charred pieces of the stool appear compromised, but are more impervious to the elements than the salvaged oak.