Robyn and Garry Mauger, French Provincial Style Dining Table (TABLES, CHAIRS, DESKS 2022)

Photos:

Tracey Townsend and Robyn Mauger

The opportunity to craft a French Provincial styled dining table from heritage listed Australian Blue Gum of local provenance, was just the sort of challenge we were looking for to lift our woodworking to the next level. Friends, Tracey and Owen, who knew of our work, mentioned their desire for a unique table to fit their renovated home, using their timber which we had straightened and stored for further air drying four years earlier. In September 2021 with the design agreed, we started work. Blue Gum is a hard heavy timber demanding precise cutting and a hand sanded finish second to none. All the edges on the square parts are precise, the curves smooth and flowing to showcase the incredible grain structure of this knot free timber. To ensure accurate cutting, templates and test pieces of scrap pine were used. The finished table is 2.8 metres x 1.2 metres, stands 750mm tall and top 47 mm thick. Surface finish is hand applied Scandinavian oil. In place, this French Provincial styled dining table exhibits the beauty of the timber with the exquisite forms of the sharp-edged flowing curves of the bulbs, tapered washers and strong powerful feet. The elegant lines of this table are most pleasing in situ, taking on a special significance when knowing it is crafted from heritage timber.

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