Birch Plywood Table

I decided to choose Birch Plywood for the table as it is a popular modern material similar to mahogany in the early Georgian period. The layers used to build up plywood influenced my design as similar to Plywood the table will be formed by layers. I intended to make a feature out of how the plywood is built up, by using the main length of the table you will be able to see layer upon layer of wood. The layers will also be lighter out of plywood compared to hardwood.

I want to merge new and old within the table design. By take inspiration from Georgian pattern aesthetic, I will create a beautifully intricate surface pattern, and combining this with new methods of machine technology, the table will become a contemporary fine art product. The target market for the product would be Conrad, Lane Crawford, My Deco, Liberty (upstairs) and Gallery shops.

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Plywood

Plywood was invented in the 1850s as a combination of three or more layers of wood. Because Plywood is cheap, easily mass-produced and accessible, it has been an important medium for experimentation by modernist designers from the 1920s onwards.

Plywood consists of at least three layers or veneers of wood which have been plied together with the grain running crosswise to add strength. The earliest examples of plywood furniture date back to the 18th century, but it was not until the 1850s that it was put into commercial production by John Henry Belter, immigrated to the US.

In the 1960s and 1970s, plywood fell from favour and as plastic became popular, recently Plywood has been a very popular choice when designing furniture especially in flat pack.

Plywood is engineered for strength, it resists warping, cracking and twisting.

How plywood is made:

• A log is softened with steam and then mounted on a lathe.
• A long knife peels off a thin layer of wood in a continuous veneer sheet. Once dried, a thin veneer sheet like this is very strong in one direction (along the grain) and very weak in the other (across the grain).
• Several layers of veneer (generally five or seven) are layered together with the grain direction alternating between the different layers. Glue is used between the layers.
• The stack is heated and pressed to form a rigid panel.

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Plywood Furniture Designs

Plywood Furniture Designs

Above is the Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair, first built-in 1946 . The chairs design is timeless and is one of the most famous chairs of the century. It’s ergonomic and elegantly design forms itself to a seated body.

Available from: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/06/eamesdesigned_m.php

Andy Kem’s Breakplane Table is a precise CNC-cut design made from interlocking, Baltic birch plywood. The legs have tabs and slots that join with the tabletop, which is cut and formed to create structural openings. Unfortunately the pieces are fixed and permanent, there is no collapsibility integrated within this design.

Information can be found at http://3rings.designerpages.com/2009/12/18/andy-kems-breakplane-furniture/

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Georgian Period

The Kings George I, II and III span from 1714 – 1811 and together their reigns are known as the Georgian period.

Georgian furniture

The early Georgian period kept the same style that had come from the Queen Anne period and continued in popularity, but also underwent modifications of its own.

The main change that occurred was the replacement of walnut by mahogany. Mahogany had first been observed on a voyage in 1595 by the carpenter on board Sir Walter Raleigh’s ship. It was admired as one of the many wonders of the Indies and on very rare occasions used. In the early/mid part of the 18th century, mahogany rapidly won favour among cabinet makers because it is very strong, long lasting and has a close grain; the rich dark red colour was well sought after. The lifting of taxes on mahogany imports by Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole in the mid-18th century was the start of the mahogany revolution.

Carving of the highest quality was used in seating furniture, a carved eagle’s head or sometimes scroll form was favored for the termination of the arms. Furniture was ornate, with lavish carving and golden ornamentation; the furniture had a real sculptural quality. The motifs used were the lion mask, the claw and ball foot, the scroll foot and the paw foot. It was the start of fantastic British furniture. The Palladian-style furniture made great use of elaborate pediments, masks and sphinxes. As the Georgian period progressed, Britain had a wealthier and more knowledgeable lower upper class that wanted the trimmings that came with wealth. This is the real boom for the English Cabinetmaker.

The age of the great designers had started Chippendale, Adam, Hepplewhite and Sheraton helped create masterpieces that are being recreated up to the present day.

As the Georgian period progressed the furniture formed a distinct contrast with that of the earlier period. The design simplified, curved lines became straight, ornament was abundant and sometimes intricate, but of a less robust character and was usually painted inlaid or applied in low relief.

I will be taking inspiration from the early Georgian period; the table design will be elaborate and intricate. However instead of hand crafting the furniture with expensive wood, I will alternatively be using a low cost modern material birch ply which will be machine cut. I aim to produce a contemporary table with the focus on intricate detail inspired by Georgian furniture patterns.

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Routing Table Leg Prototypes

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