Steve Latta’s Baltimore Card Desk

Requested to explain himself, Steve Latta would possibly say, “I symbolize the makers, the artisans, the craftsmen of our area. I’m a man that labored actually, actually arduous to realize mastery of an age-old talent in an period of automation.”

His latest Baltimore card desk in mahogany—with veneers together with Carpathian burl, crotch walnut, plum pudding mahogany, imbuia, and Australian silky walnut—clearly embodies experience that’s many years deep, and it reveals a watch for the best expressions of the Federal fashion. Nevertheless it additionally displays a little bit of restlessness, an ambition to succeed in past the realm of pure copy.

After 40 years constructing largely interval furnishings, Latta has been making a transition towards creating items that retain conventional varieties however add a up to date cost. Having practically accomplished this desk whereas hewing carefully to interval antecedents, he was proud of the bottom and the open prime, however he didn’t assume the closed prime was of the identical caliber; it appeared too easy. “I needed this to be an distinctive desk,” he stated, “so I took an opportunity and added holly lotuses.” The lotus design was unorthodox in itself, and he organized the flowers irregularly within the sunburst area. The longtime artisan sought a hand within the artwork: “I needed to present the everyday Federal symmetry somewhat little bit of a kick.” —Jonathan Binzen

Fundamental Stringing Strategies

A interval furnishings grasp demonstrates easy inlay methods that yields beautiful stringing partially one in all our three-part sequence

Superior Stringing Strategies: Half I

Be taught stringing methods for extra complicated designs. From sequencing to filling a double line inlay, the following pointers may be utilized to many various designs.

Superior Stringing Strategies: Half II

Steve Latta’s lesson on superior stringing methods continues partially two as he exhibits you how one can make an entire circle and how one can inlay plugs.