Rex Kalehoff, Fox Valet Bench (WORLD 2024)

Photos:

David Angeletti @lcgdp.photo.agency

Country:

Luxembourg

Video tour:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C99wHn8oQVA/

Originally from New York City, I am a maker who studies the natural world intimately, and finds inspiration in the art and mythologies of ancient and indigenous cultures. I’ve recently moved to Luxembourg, EU, where I encounter wild foxes in the farmlands and forests surrounding the village where I live. Seeing such an infamous creature of myth and folklore really gets my mind racing. “Fox Valet Bench” is a reinterpretation of a valet chair, offering a unique and contemplative furniture experience, while evoking one’s fox-like attributes of playfulness and sophistication, wisdom and adaptability, masculinity and femininity. In addition to its spacious seating, the helpful fox stands at users height, presenting and inviting many forms of creative interaction. This functional artwork showcases meticulous craftsmanship and technique, combining traditional furniture joinery, carving, and turning. The “bench” and its framework is crafted in solid fumed oak with mortise and tenon and cross-lap joinery for beauty and strength. Each member was hand-shaped to create the subtle doming on every face and edge. This can be especially appreciated on the corners and underside of the bench, which feature hand-carved transitions across every joint. The “bench seat”, also hand-shaped, is secured to the undercarriage with brass bolts to allow wood movement. The “fox” is stack-laminated and carved in sapele, with mortise and tenon joinery in the ears and legs. Tenons under the feet of the fox fit into mortises in the bench seat, and are secured with brass hardware. The “pots”, joined with large dowel pins for strength, are stacked and lathe-turned in sapele, and then carved to fit precisely around the body of the fox. The artwork is unstained and finished entirely with a durable, noVOC, plant-based hardwax oil, that enhances the rich, dark, natural tones of the wood.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.