Andrew Dobson, The Bench that Repurposed History (CHESTS, CABINETS, SHELVING 2022)

Photos:

Andrew Dobson

Video tour:

https://vimeo.com/741347932

This was one massive bench; I think the finished weight was around 450 KG! Featuring reclaimed and sustainably sourced Messmate and Vic Ash, we were also lucky enough to secure some amazing, reclaimed Stringybark that was used for the drawer boxes, to really lift the end result. Details are many – mortice and tenons joints, dovetail joints, draw vents, 8 draws (plus a secret one in the end), end grain bench top and waste shoot along with genuine 1930’s art deco hardware and 19th Century antique castors. To top it off the bench features authentic Vietnam War-era bronze screws, that had originally come from Jervis Bay military base. Though this was a massive and complex build that challenged the grey matter more than once, it was a pleasure to make, and I’ll admit to sitting on one of my work benches eating my lunch, just admiring the end result.

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