One to watch: Sebastian Cox, furniture maker
Furniture maker Sebastian Cox, part of the Heal’s Discovers initiative to cultivate new talent
Who:
Sebastian Cox loves wood. He is also fascinated with the Arts & Crafts movement and hopes his designs provide a 2014 renaissance. 'We're tired of laminates and veneers hiding low-quality materials, and just as in late-Victorian Britain, we want to see that our wooden furniture is made from wood, and see how that wood is put together,' he says. He was selected to be part of the Heal's Discovers initiative last year to cultivate new talent, culminating in its exhibition during the London Design Festival.
Why:
His interest in getting back to nature was something he explored during his MA in design using local materials and traditional techniques to create contemporary furniture designs. The wood used in his current collection is grown locally and is harvested every winter. This coppicing way of managing trees provides an abundant source of timber, as well as creating a healthy and diverse woodland.
What:
Hazel pendant light: By using the more 'interesting' pieces of hazel grown in the coppice unsuitable for chair making, each light pendant is unique. Without necessarily being straight and knot-free the wood often includes twisted branches, caused by ivy or clematis, which are 'just too beautiful' to not use.
Oak & hazel sideboard: 'I wanted it to be made of solid, quarter-sawn English oak, with a lightweight hazel frame supporting the carcass, Cox says. 'All the construction is visible and honest, and the bridle joints show how the piece is made. The flecking in the oak and the hints of bark on the hazel let the materials tell their story.'
Suent Superight Chair is made from coppiced hazel, a sustainable wood that has been hand harvested in Kent. The back legs are steam bent to aid strong construction, and different colours are available using a natural dye made from vinegar and rusty nails.
Where:
Words by Helen Parton
