Jasper Murphy
Gisborne
Jasper has always loved making things. As a small boy, correspondence woodwork was a highlight, but over the years education and then farming left him with little spare time to pursue his passion.
In 1996 however he moved off the farm, became a full-time househusband and over the next few years started making chairs. Jasper discovered green woodwork whilst living in the UK in the early ’90s. He returned there again in 2002 and spent two weeks living in an English woodland in Herefordshire learning some of the finer points of traditional green woodwork. They camped on-site in the woods, living chair making daylight till dark, cooking their own food and sharing it with the squirrels.
The Art of Traditional Green Woodwork.
In his workshop on Gisborne’s meandering Taruheru River Jasper uses hand tools and a foot-powered pole lathe, (also made himself) to split, trim, turn, steam and bend freshly cut wood into the shapes required. There are certain advantages to using green wood; the tree can be used as soon as it is cut without having to wait for it to dry and the resulting chairs don’t require nails, screws or glues as the drying wood shrinks to produce a strong joint.
Over the last few years Jasper has developed his own individual style while continuing to use traditional methods. He likes to know the origins and history of the wood he uses, as the character of the available wood often determines the style of the chair. He is especially keen on using wood from trees that would have otherwise been made into firewood or left to rot.
With family commitments now diminishing Jasper has more time to devote to chair making.
Jasper likes to make chairs that suit the needs of the individual. Contact him at jasper@chairsbyjasper.co.nz, or (06) 863 0513 or 021 119 0923. Check out his website: www.chairsbyjasper.co.nz
This post is tagged Bodger, Chairs, Chairs By Jasper, Furniture Design, Gisborne, Jasper Murphy
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