Roots of Inspiration

 

John Wittenburg, Maui

Small Chest
curly koa,pheasant wood,fossil ivory, bronze

Island people have loved and treasured koa furniture since the early days of the Monarchy. Highly skilled Europeans, mostly German craftsmen and later Chinese and Japanese, all left their mark on what we know as "Hawaiian furniture." Koa was readily available back then and of a quality that today we mostly dream of. Missionaries, having no furniture upon their arrival learned to make their own. So history was made and today there is certainly enough inspiration to go around. Personally, I prefer the earlier more simple and utilitarian style as opposed to the fancy doings of the later years of the Monarchy. My body of work spanning almost 50 years in the islands reflects that my inspiration comes from all the craftsmen and artisans down through the years that helped guide us to where we are today.

For more information about John, visit his web page:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small Chest

 

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