Comments on: The Passing of a Maker http://whipup.net/2006/12/15/the-passing-of-a-maker/ handcraft in a hectic world Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:35:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Bob http://whipup.net/2006/12/15/the-passing-of-a-maker/#comment-40630 Bob Mon, 08 Jan 2007 22:51:11 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/12/15/the-passing-of-a-maker/#comment-40630 I just found out today that Berthold has passed on. I truly regret not having taken more of his classes while he was still around to learn from. Even though the classes are fundamentally sound with or without him, half the fun came from joking with him and enjoying his unique nature. I just found out today that Berthold has passed on. I truly regret not having taken more of his classes while he was still around to learn from. Even though the classes are fundamentally sound with or without him, half the fun came from joking with him and enjoying his unique nature.

]]> By: Tony B. http://whipup.net/2006/12/15/the-passing-of-a-maker/#comment-27821 Tony B. Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:37:10 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/12/15/the-passing-of-a-maker/#comment-27821 The four pieces of furniture in your photographs were designed by Berthold Schwaiger and constructed by his apprentices. With the exception of the chair, these pieces were all truly “one-of-a-kind” and were built specifically for exhibition at the 2002 Chicago Design Show at Merchandise Mart where the theme of the Bauhaus exhibit was “The Artisan’s Home.” We had roughly 1000 sq.ft. of exhibition space with the majority devoted to the unified “home” theme where pieces were designed, built, and exhibited to simulate spaces for the living room, dining room, kitchen and bedroom. The remainder of the exhibit space was a co-op featuring the work of former students, many now maintaining businesses and shops of their own. The Schwaiger Chair in your photograph is one of a handful of signature pieces that became his most-requested commissions. Originally built in cherry, it’s also been constructed in walnut and osage orange, and there’s at least one prototype in the shop made from a combination of woods. The chair incorporates several of Berthold’s favorite design and construction techniques. The rails that support the seat were attached to the front legs with a sliding dovetail. The seat was glued-up as one longer piece of material, then cut into four pie-shaped pieces, and set in place so that the wood grain from each of the four pieces flowed continuously around the seat. The seat was set into the rails so that the horizontal rails and the sliding dovetail joinery connecting the rails to the legs would be revealed. The construction of the backrest was the most challenging. Again, a single large piece of material was used so that the grain would flow continuously from one arm, around the backrest to the other arm. The material was cut at the appropriate angles to form the general shape of the back and arms then rejoined using visible splines. A grinding wheel called a “Lancelot” was used to hog-off much of the material, but the final shape can only be achieved in the time-honored hand-tool tradition of rasping, filing, and sanding. There are no nails, screws or other metal fasteners required to hold this together. It was designed and engineered so that pieces would lock together mechanically and be held in place with glue. To be truly appreciated, you had to sit in it. It was extraordinarily comfortable. It was functional art. A table with similar design elements and construction techniques was also available as a complement to the chairs. The bed you referred to was actually constructed of catalpa and white oak and I did find a photograph on-line embedded in a flyer promoting the 2002 Chicago Design Show exhibition. You’ll find it here: http://www.lf.org/bhai2000/bsad3f.pdf The small details, careful selection and layout of materials, unique joinery and often labor-intensive construction, truly distinguished his designs. Berthold was fond of saying, “The furniture should last as long as it takes the tree to grow.” It should come as no surprise that his last exhibition this past summer at the Alden Dow Home and Studio in Midland, Michigan included the phrase “Lasting Values…” as a reflection of that philosophy. Equally as noteworthy, as coordinator of the Saturday Shop Time program, I’ve seen scores of students come through the shop that will get a lifetime of enjoyment and satisfaction from the vocation/avocation of furniture-making as a result of his instruction. The four pieces of furniture in your photographs were designed by Berthold Schwaiger and constructed by his apprentices. With the exception of the chair, these pieces were all truly “one-of-a-kind” and were built specifically for exhibition at the 2002 Chicago Design Show at Merchandise Mart where the theme of the Bauhaus exhibit was “The Artisan’s Home.” We had roughly 1000 sq.ft. of exhibition space with the majority devoted to the unified “home” theme where pieces were designed, built, and exhibited to simulate spaces for the living room, dining room, kitchen and bedroom. The remainder of the exhibit space was a co-op featuring the work of former students, many now maintaining businesses and shops of their own.

The Schwaiger Chair in your photograph is one of a handful of signature pieces that became his most-requested commissions. Originally built in cherry, it’s also been constructed in walnut and osage orange, and there’s at least one prototype in the shop made from a combination of woods. The chair incorporates several of Berthold’s favorite design and construction techniques. The rails that support the seat were attached to the front legs with a sliding dovetail. The seat was glued-up as one longer piece of material, then cut into four pie-shaped pieces, and set in place so that the wood grain from each of the four pieces flowed continuously around the seat. The seat was set into the rails so that the horizontal rails and the sliding dovetail joinery connecting the rails to the legs would be revealed.

The construction of the backrest was the most challenging. Again, a single large piece of material was used so that the grain would flow continuously from one arm, around the backrest to the other arm. The material was cut at the appropriate angles to form the general shape of the back and arms then rejoined using visible splines. A grinding wheel called a “Lancelot” was used to hog-off much of the material, but the final shape can only be achieved in the time-honored hand-tool tradition of rasping, filing, and sanding.

There are no nails, screws or other metal fasteners required to hold this together. It was designed and engineered so that pieces would lock together mechanically and be held in place with glue. To be truly appreciated, you had to sit in it. It was extraordinarily comfortable. It was functional art.

A table with similar design elements and construction techniques was also available as a complement to the chairs.

The bed you referred to was actually constructed of catalpa and white oak and I did find a photograph on-line embedded in a flyer promoting the 2002 Chicago Design Show exhibition. You’ll find it here: http://www.lf.org/bhai2000/bsad3f.pdf

The small details, careful selection and layout of materials, unique joinery and often labor-intensive construction, truly distinguished his designs.

Berthold was fond of saying, “The furniture should last as long as it takes the tree to grow.” It should come as no surprise that his last exhibition this past summer at the Alden Dow Home and Studio in Midland, Michigan included the phrase “Lasting Values…” as a reflection of that philosophy. Equally as noteworthy, as coordinator of the Saturday Shop Time program, I’ve seen scores of students come through the shop that will get a lifetime of enjoyment and satisfaction from the vocation/avocation of furniture-making as a result of his instruction.

]]> By: Doug http://whipup.net/2006/12/15/the-passing-of-a-maker/#comment-27482 Doug Mon, 18 Dec 2006 02:12:07 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/12/15/the-passing-of-a-maker/#comment-27482 Berthold was a wonderful teacher. I will never forget some of the humorous wisdom he passed on during his class. Doug Berthold was a wonderful teacher. I will never forget some of the humorous wisdom he passed on during his class.

Doug

]]> By: Weeks http://whipup.net/2006/12/15/the-passing-of-a-maker/#comment-27339 Weeks Sat, 16 Dec 2006 20:48:44 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/12/15/the-passing-of-a-maker/#comment-27339 Pam and other fans of Berthold's, There is a memorial service for him Sunday from 5-8 pm. I will email directly anyone the phone number of his apprentices who are coordinating it. For other Chicagoans, I have spoken to the Chicago Tribune and they have told me that they plan to write a tribute to him. Berthold had no family in this country and all of his arrangements are being made by his loyal apprentices. If you speak to them please thank them for all they are doing for him. I will be sending a packet of articles that appear about him in the press to his daughter Tanya in Germany. If you care to send a note to me about you thoughts on Berthold (see funquilts.com for the address) I'd be happy to include it in the package. Thanks. Pam and other fans of Berthold’s,
There is a memorial service for him Sunday from 5-8 pm. I will email directly anyone the phone number of his apprentices who are coordinating it. For other Chicagoans, I have spoken to the Chicago Tribune and they have told me that they plan to write a tribute to him. Berthold had no family in this country and all of his arrangements are being made by his loyal apprentices. If you speak to them please thank them for all they are doing for him. I will be sending a packet of articles that appear about him in the press to his daughter Tanya in Germany. If you care to send a note to me about you thoughts on Berthold (see funquilts.com for the address) I’d be happy to include it in the package. Thanks.

]]> By: Pam http://whipup.net/2006/12/15/the-passing-of-a-maker/#comment-27331 Pam Sat, 16 Dec 2006 20:04:58 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/12/15/the-passing-of-a-maker/#comment-27331 Oh, this is such sad news. I live very close the Bauhaus Studio and took four of Berthold's classes. I'm looking at his telephone stand right now. It's always been a special piece to me, but now it has even more meaning. No one is answering at the Bauhaus and I can't find any informaiton on his passing. If there are any arrangements being made in the states, can you please let me know? Oh, this is such sad news. I live very close the Bauhaus Studio and took four of Berthold’s classes. I’m looking at his telephone stand right now. It’s always been a special piece to me, but now it has even more meaning.

No one is answering at the Bauhaus and I can’t find any informaiton on his passing. If there are any arrangements being made in the states, can you please let me know?

]]> By: Amie http://whipup.net/2006/12/15/the-passing-of-a-maker/#comment-27285 Amie Sat, 16 Dec 2006 13:33:57 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/12/15/the-passing-of-a-maker/#comment-27285 ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS STUFF. I would feel proud to own something with such great aesthetic interest and craftsmanship. ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS STUFF. I would feel proud to own something with such great aesthetic interest and craftsmanship.

]]> By: rooruu http://whipup.net/2006/12/15/the-passing-of-a-maker/#comment-27168 rooruu Fri, 15 Dec 2006 21:47:42 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/12/15/the-passing-of-a-maker/#comment-27168 What an absolutely wonderful, inspiring, thought-provoking post. Thank you, Weeks. Long live the makers indeed. What an absolutely wonderful, inspiring, thought-provoking post. Thank you, Weeks. Long live the makers indeed.

]]> By: Tina Post http://whipup.net/2006/12/15/the-passing-of-a-maker/#comment-27142 Tina Post Fri, 15 Dec 2006 18:54:22 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/12/15/the-passing-of-a-maker/#comment-27142 So sorry for this loss (...and your loss...). Thanks for sharing your thoughts and his beautiful work. So sorry for this loss (…and your loss…). Thanks for sharing your thoughts and his beautiful work.

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