Barry Mays: Wild Furniture Maker
Barry Mays creates stunning hand made sculptural chairs, using traditional hand tools and green woodworking techniques. The forms evolve intuitively following the natural contours of the timber, harvested from local sustainable sources. He calls them Wild Chairs.
Born in London, he left behind a high profile position in Information Technology in 1998, to study green woodworking and sculpture. In 1990 he finally found an outlet for his creative passions, moved to Cornwall and studied traditional chair making techniques.
Influenced by studies of Celtic, Aztec, Japanese and American Indian art and culture, andmost importantly, nature, his work is, to some extent a rebellion from tradition. Each piece suggests parity with the maker’s mind, and the spirit of the forest. Green woodworking ‘know-how’, traditional chair making and seat weaving skills have been in practice for hundreds of years. He is committed to keeping this heritage alive in his work.
Each chair originates as a freshly felled tree. The main trunk and limbs are cleft down the grain to produce the raw component parts which are then further worked by hand, to make the chair parts. Typically, arms are cleft from one curved limb to produce two halves. Rungs are kiln dried, but the legs are air dried to ensure maximum strength and some moisture retention. After assembly, the legs shrink further onto the rungs as they dry, ensuring an extremely tight bond.
He works the timber with axe, bow saw, fro and glut. He crafts with side axe, drawknife and spokeshave and uses round mortice and tennon joinery. Hand made oak pegs and wedges feature on backs and arms. The chair is sealed and enhanced with oils and waxes to compliment the natural color and grain. The choice of the materials used for chair seats is largely dictated by a feeling for the finished piece, therefore wood, natural rush, hickory bark, or cotton webbing is a most natural, beautiful and complimentary choice.
He believes that his work should not just
be thought of as pieces of furniture, but natural works
of art. They should remind you of the tree from which
they came. The chair should be a piece of sculpture
projecting movement and grace. It should almost dance.
No two chairs will ever be the same. Every client enjoys exclusivity with ownership. He won’t replicate, even on a limited edition basis. In early Autumn 2005 he began to market his work and enjoyed immediate success exhibiting and selling through Galleries in the South West. He is a full member of the Devon Guild of Craftsman and his work has appeared in Cornwall Life magazine.
In addition to his Wild Chairs, Barry also creates beautiful sets of dining chairs, and rustic style rocking chairs. He welcomes commissions.
Vist Barry's website which gives much
more information about his products. Or phone 01579
370404 (+44 1579 370404 from outside the UK)
Contact information
Please contact the individual specialist you think best meets your needs. Any other group member will be pleased to help you.
If you would like to contact the group itself, please use the contact information below. You will need to type the address in full into your email.
Electronic mail address - chairman
bespokewoodworkers.co.uk
Telephone - 01822 832216 or from outside the UK +44 1822 832216