Single Block Seat
Seat
2004 (made)
2004 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The Single Block Seat is hewn from a single block of unseasoned burr oak. The makers have simply pared away a concave section on top of the block to make a surprisingly comfortable place to sit. The cracks and splits in the wood occur naturally as the timber dries out, but the makers have not tried to disguise them. In fact, by charring the whole surface of the seat, they draw our attention to the beauty of the wood in its natural condition. They have taken a minimal approach to creating a monumental piece of furniture, achieving maximum effect. Partridge and Walmsley have made several variations of the Single Block Seat, and most of them sit in public places like gardens and canal paths.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Single Block Seat (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Burr oak, hewn and charred |
| Brief description | Single Block Seat, charred burr oak, designed and made by Jim Partridge and Liz Walmsley, Shropshire, 2004 |
| Physical description | The seat is carved from a solid block of unseasoned (green) burr oak using chainsaws and power sanders. The piece was left to dry; the process of cracking up inevitably happens as baulks of timber season. The block is then scorched hard with a blow torch and the soot removed. This burning process hardens the surface and accentuates the grain as the spring growth burns out more easily. After all soot has been removed the surface is waxed. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Copyright Jim Partridge & Liz Walmsley |
| Production | Jointly made piece by Jim Partridge and Liz Walmsley |
| Summary | The Single Block Seat is hewn from a single block of unseasoned burr oak. The makers have simply pared away a concave section on top of the block to make a surprisingly comfortable place to sit. The cracks and splits in the wood occur naturally as the timber dries out, but the makers have not tried to disguise them. In fact, by charring the whole surface of the seat, they draw our attention to the beauty of the wood in its natural condition. They have taken a minimal approach to creating a monumental piece of furniture, achieving maximum effect. Partridge and Walmsley have made several variations of the Single Block Seat, and most of them sit in public places like gardens and canal paths. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.1-2005 |
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| Record created | March 31, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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