Smithsonian via Missouri

The Jungle and The Ocean vs. Midwestern Hedgerows

For our Smithsonian presentation, it was important that the work reflect the full breadth of our craft, spanning from exotic veneer and inlay to ultra-local solid wood. The Fairfax table pairs Cameroon zebrawood with New Zealand shagreen inlay, anchored by a 20-sided sunburst match. In contrast, the Mississippi Steam Trunk is made from local Osage orange, a species seldom used in furniture because of its irregular growth and small diameter. Also known as bowwood for its historic use by the Osage Nation in longbows, its dense, thorned growth habit is said to have inspired barbed wire.