GREAT PLAINS BUFFET
Brad Greenwood has a talent for taking pragmatic design concepts to a new level. It is clearly evident in the "Great Plains Buffet" he created in 2001. This unique furniture piece won the "Best Woodworking & Craftsmanship Award" at the 2001 Western Design Conference held in Cody, WY. This interesting piece pays homage to the artist's heritage and brings sophistication to natural form.
A striking combination of eleven hardwoods have been skillfully joined to create a functional work of art. Brad has chosen beautifully grained walnut slabs left in their natural form for the top and back splash of the buffet. An intricate carving of a covered wagon is pegged into the center of the back splash, which frames the carving much like the backdrop of a mountain range. A miniature barb-wire fence meanders in front of the mountain silhouette. Exposed hand cut dove tail joints unite the main portion of the piece, and the leg stretchers join the legs with tusk tenon construction.Brad carved the pegs from black walnut into the shape of pistols. The spalted madrone cabinet door panels are set within quarter sawn white oak frames, pegged with eucalyptus. The inside edges of the doors are carved to create a wormy edge effect. Brad has created the drawer and door pulls from white oak branches mortised and pegged with walnut and eucalyptus. The lock escutcheons are carved from eucalyptus, and the removable bowl is carved from sycamore. Blackened rebar steel was chosen to adorn the stretchers. A hidden key holder pops out from behind the inlaid copper leaf (initiated with the push of a hidden lever). Secret compartments have been built behind the two upper locking drawers. This extraordinary piece of furniture took the artisan approximately 250 hours to complete. The large slabs that were chosen for use took approximately three years to dry. |
