Adam King Studio Fine Furniture & Antique Restoration

This question is asked of me quite a bit. In today's mass - produced and over - consumed existence, it is sometimes hard to separate, in one's mind, hand made goods from the rest of the bunch. People are not always clear on what really defines fine craft from the things they purchase at big box stores. Seriously. I encounter this quandary on a regular basis as I seek to educate the general public to these differences.

There are many schools of thought pertaining to this question. Some would say fine furniture is made entirely by hand, while others would argue that it is in the design and aesthetics of the piece that elevates it to this lofty level. Some even conclude that it must be an authentic reproduction of the past to be considered fine furniture. The definitions and opinions vary as much as the people who express them. So, is there a way to put the debate to rest? Can the parameters of fine furniture be clearly and concisely stated once and for all? Maybe. Maybe not. In fact it's not my place to even try. What I present here are simply the observations and opinions of a simple craftsman seeking to help change the mindset of a society that has lost touch with the fine and simple things of life. So, what, in my opinion, elevates a piece to being considered, "fine furniture?"

Well, the first thing is to consider the piece as a whole. Look at the overall design. It's been a trend, lately, in mainstream mass - produced furniture to combine a multitude of stylistic references and haphazardly slapped on molding in an effort to create some sort of "elegance." All that's being accomplished there is mass confusion! A well designed piece, takes everything into consideration. The style that the piece seeks to reflect will be enhanced by careful wood selection, the proportion of all of its parts, the inclusion of certain details as well as the exclusion of others. Even the hinges and handles must exist cohesively with the piece. Every aspect of fine furniture down to the smallest detail is brought together in a delicate and harmonious balance. Without this, you simply have an item.

The next thing to consider are the details. Observe the minute characteristics that make the piece stand out from the crowd. Are the aprons joined to the legs tightly? Do those cabinet doors close with ease and have an even reveal around them? Were the drawers constructed with well - executed joinery? These things separate good from great. Fine Furniture does not always exhibit hand cut dovetails and Newport Shell carvings. What I'm describing is a sensitive approach to the "small" things that make up the whole. Careful, thoughtful, and deliberate execution of proper techniques that result in a piece that quietly tells its story with the simple elegance of all its details.

Lastly, consider the maker. Who made the piece? What are their guiding principles and philosophies within the craft? Why do they choose to build the way they do? What are their chosen methods of design and construction? Like it or not, the very core of our being is communicated through our work. When we make something with our God - given instruments of the hands, the eyes, and the mind, we include our thoughts, our beliefs, and our heart in that work. Instead of denying it, a maker of fine furniture embraces it and seeks to enhance it. To this maker, each piece is a small gift of their ability, their love, their passion. It is a gift of their true self. This is what truly elevates fine furniture from all else.

Well, these are just brief glimpses into what could become a never - ending discourse on the subject, but I hope to have begun to shed some light on what puts the "fine" in "fine furniture."