22 June 2009 NEWS RELEASE
A Yorkshire furniture maker has been shortlisted for one of the UK’s most prestigious design awards. A piece by Philip Dobbins Furniture of Henshaw, Leeds, has been selected by the judging panel of the Wood Awards as one of this year’s shortlisted projects. The piece, a burr oak side table with ebony detail, is one of only five in its category (Furniture) chosen from across the whole of the UK.
The Wood Awards is the UK’s premier architecture and furniture competition celebrating excellence in design in the world’s most sustainable material. Now in its seventh year the Wood Awards is the most respected award for building and design in wood.
Says Philip: “This is the first year I’ve entered the competition, so to be shortlisted is a great result. Making speculative pieces is quite different to making commissioned pieces, it lets me develop designs I’ve been evolving over some time. The side table fuses traditional themes with contemporary design and some of the construction techniques have been quite complex, something that always gives a sense of achievement”.
Philip works to commission and also creates pieces for sale both through his workshop and exhibition and sale through galleries. He exhibits at a number of locations across Yorkshire as well as in Cheltenham and London.
Philip’s table will be shown at Carpenters Hall in London on October 14th when the Wood Award winners will be announced. The table can also be viewed at ‘Making the Future’ from 6th September to 4th October 2009 at Portman Village in the West End of London.
In Yorkshire, Philip’s work can always be seen at his workshop in Henshaw and on his website at www.dobbins.co.uk. He will also soon be exhibiting in a new gallery - Designer Makers - which opens later next month at Wood Nook Farm, Blubberhouses, near Harrogate, in the same development as MacKenzies Yorkshire Smokehouse & Restaurant.
www.yorkshiresmokehouse.co.uk
(ends)
For further information please contact:
Philip Dobbins, Philip Dobbins Furniture. Natalie Palk, Palk Public Relations.
T: 0113 2502738. E: philip@dobbins.co.uk T: 01677 422666. E: natalie@palkpr.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
DESCRIPTION OF PHILIP DOBBINS’S SHORTLISTED SIDE TABLE
www.dobbins.co.uk/burr sidetables.htm
LOCATION: PRIVATE COLLECTION
DESIGNER: PHILIP DOBBINS
MAKER: PHILIP DOBBINS
DIMENSIONS: 70 cm X 75 cm X 50 cm
This table is a long term development of a design that originated with a bubinga console table, progressed to a burr walnut console table and then to the current interpretation. Features that have survived the process include the off-set leg construction which allows the drawer box and top to be a single geometric element, with the drawer front set flush in a curved side panel. The simplicity of the box form is enhanced with burr veneers, so that its very plainness is contrasted with the richness of the wood.
The off-set octagonal legs are similarly veneered and the slender geometry is again emphasised by the richness of the wood. A similar contrast of material and form is achieved by using burr veneers on the legs and the stretcher rail, components that are far too delicate to be constructed from such material other than by using the veneering process. The contrasting ebony feet set off the design by accentuating the octagonal leg section. The ebony drawer handle refers back to the curves in the plan view of the table.
Construction utilises laminated birch ply for the curves; the legs are veneered on solid oak where the cross section dimension is small and movement will be not be a problem. The drawer is a thoroughly traditional oak sided dovetail construction with cedar of Lebanon baseboard. The finish is in a burnished AC lacquer, paying homage to the deco period which had a hand in inspiring the design.
THE WOOD AWARDS
The Wood Awards is the UK’s premier architecture and furniture competition celebrating excellence in design in the world’s most sustainable material. The Wood Awards is sponsored by a number of organisations, led by the American Hardwood Export Council, Forestry Commission and Carpenters’ Company, and is now in its seventh year as the UK’s premier award scheme celebrating excellence in wood in buildings and furniture made in Britain. Winners will be announced at the Carpenter’s Hall on 14 October 2009.
www.woodawards.com