Sam Maloof's House and Studio in California
Part of why I write this blog is simply as an excuse / motivation to learn more about design and architecture. Sam Maloof was virtually unknown to me before two years ago. Little did I know that I had seen his beautiful work many times before in glossy magazine spreads in Architectural Digest and in person at the Renwick Gallery in Washington DC.
Like Maloof I have an extreme appreciation for small details and the beauty of natural materials. Sam Maloof is considered to be one of the great American woodworkers. Maloof, grew up in California during the first part of the 20th century. In 1948, after serving in WWII and getting married, he returned to his native Ontario, California and set up a woodworking shop in the garage of his home. He started making furniture for his own home and wasn't commissioned to create a piece for a paying client until 1949. He moved to a bigger studio in Alta Loma, California in 1953.
He was working during the fabulous post-war period when modernism was emerging in the California desert. His designs in wood are so meticulous but the influence of modernism is seen in the simple elegance of his pieces. He is is known for the extreme delicacy in which he design his pieces, each as a living breathing piece of art. Completely self-taught, Sam Maloof his furniture exemplified the idea of modern practicality in conjunction with beautiful styling and craftsmanship.
Unfortunately we lost a great craftsman last year in May 2009, however his legacy lives on. His company Sam Maloof Woodworking has several talented craftsmen working, designing and using the techniques that Sam taught them over years of apprenticeship. His collection of work also lives on in the homes of many collectors and is often featured in exhibitions around the country.
"Craftsmen in any media know the satisfaction that comes in designing & making an object from raw material. Mine comes from working in wood. Once you have breathed, smelled & tasted the tanginess of wood, and have handled it in the process of giving it form, there is nothing, I believe, that can replace that complete satisfaction gained."
-Sam Maloof
Evolution, not revolution, is the hallmark of his style.
Each of his pieces whether an individual rocker or a group of dining chairs, each piece is individual & will have subtle nuances. Every chair is designed individually - "it's a living thing".
Other designers you might enjoy who work with wood:
