Nick Pedulla, The Etereo Cabinet (CHESTS, CABINETS & BOXES 2024)

Photos:

Nick Pedulla

Video tour:

https://youtu.be/cuDifi7H1ZM?si=nZ6j8-7LmEsw0pXf

The central idea of this Whisky Cabinet is the combination of different elements working together as one. Much like whisky needs a wooden barrel to create its distinct flavour, this piece needs its curved leg to open the cabinet. Without the leg, there is no handle, and without the handle, there is no leg to support the cabinet. Crafted from Hard Maple, Queensland Maple, White Ash, Figured English Sycamore veneer, and Black Dyed Veneer, this cabinet stands 1800mm tall, 620mm wide, and 440mm deep. The flowing curve that wraps around the cabinet is made from 2mm-thick lengths of Ash, a wood known for its flexible nature, pressed between an outer layer of Hard Maple and an inner layer of highly figured English Sycamore veneer. This curve starts as the fourth leg and elegantly wraps around the piece until it finally reveals itself as the handle that opens the double doors. This handle has been carefully hand-cut at an angle to help hide the join and allow the grain to flow as invisibly as possible. (The attached video shows this piece in action) The Figured Sycamore plays an important role; it not only blends with the Hard Maple but also ties in with the figure of the contrasting Queensland Maple cabinet as the top of the flowing curve intensifies and turns into the handle. The coming together of these two different species from opposite ends of the world finds common ground in their highly figured grain patterns—a testament to the environmental stresses that made them what they are. The Wedged Mortise & Tenons were no easy task. The front leg is tapered, and the back legs are curved, meaning the shoulders all need to match. Not to mention each mortise needs to be tapered to allow for the wedge, which, like all the black details, has been made from multiple sheets of 0.5mm black dyed veneer, then pressed with epoxy to achieve its thickness, providing an incredibly hard material that helps bring each component together. The top cabinet, made from Queensland Maple, consists of 13 layers. Each layer uses three pieces of Maple, carefully mitred on each corner, creating two sides and a top. This design appears somewhat inconspicuous from the outside as it naturally curves from front to back. Inspired by the very barrels used to make the whisky. A nod to the harmony between wood and spirit. But the inside of the cabinet creates a whole new world, where light and shadow work together to create an inviting, almost ethereal experience. This cabinet isn’t designed for storing bottles; it's designed to showcase them. A rotating shelf made for just two glasses provides an invitation for two people to come together, to listen, to share, and to inspire.

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