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Brodgar Straw Back Bench
Gareth Neal, Kevin Gauld
£4,180
Exclusively designed for The New Craftsmen by Gareth Neal and made by Orkney furniture maker Kevin Gauld, this striking bench showcases the vernacular straw work of traditional Orkney chairs to stunning effect. It can be made with or without the traditional drawers that are fitted underneath the bench.
The Brodgar Bench is an extension of the iconic Brodgar Occasional Chair launched in 2012 and forms part of an exclusive range of straw-woven furniture rooted in the Orkney craft tradition. Designed and made as a collaboration between furniture maker-designer Gareth Neal and Orkney-based straw furniture maker, Kevin Gauld, it harmoniously combines the Windsor chair vernacular with the warm texture of woven straw.
The Brodgar Bench is an extension of the iconic Brodgar Occasional Chair launched in 2012 and forms part of an exclusive range of straw-woven furniture rooted in the Orkney craft tradition. Designed and made as a collaboration between furniture maker-designer Gareth Neal and Orkney-based straw furniture maker, Kevin Gauld, it harmoniously combines the Windsor chair vernacular with the warm texture of woven straw.
Material: Oak, Straw
Dimensions: (Outside overall) Height: 75cm, Length: 123cm, Width: 56cm and (Inside seat) Height: 75cm, Length: 104cm, Width: 46cm
Care Instructions: Wipe with damp, lint-free cloth
Dimensions: (Outside overall) Height: 75cm, Length: 123cm, Width: 56cm and (Inside seat) Height: 75cm, Length: 104cm, Width: 46cm
Care Instructions: Wipe with damp, lint-free cloth
Made to order (10-12 weeks)
Process
The Brodgar collection is a story of place, materiality and collaboration. Having first travelled to Orkney in 2010, The New Craftsmen’s creative director, Catherine Lock, was immediately inspired by the raw elemental landscape and the inherent craft ecosystem on the island. Starting with the Brodgar Occasional Chair, a collaboration was fostered between Gareth Neal and Kevin Gauld to create a contemporary take on the original Orkney chair. The partnership since has spawned a whole collection of pieces including a bench, dining chair, lounge chair and side table. Common to all is an elegant oak frame designed by Gareth specifically to integrate the intensive straw work by Kevin in his workshop in Orkney. The result is a series of pieces sensitively realised and truly authentic to the traditions, people and narratives they represent. Testament to this is the display of the Brodgar Occasional Chair at the Victoria & Albert museum as part of their permanent collection.
Gareth Neal is an East London-based furniture designer who through material inventiveness and curiosity, has helped to shape a new era in contemporary British craft. Gareth is passionate about honouring ‘people, process and place’ working collaboratively to champion the use of indigenous materials and traditional processes. Gareth Neal’s studio produces a variety of furniture pieces including seating, cabinetry and sculptural artworks all with a focus on sustainability and respect to the environment.
Kevin Gauld is a furniture maker based on the Scottish islands of Orkney, making traditional and contemporary furniture including the historic Orkney chair. Unique to the Orkney islands, the chair is a classic example of product design responding to the its local surroundings. Having refined the technique of Orkney chair making, Kevin Gauld now runs his own workshop, collaborating with designer Gareth Neal on the ‘Brodgar Series’, an exclusive and celebrated modern interpretation of the Orkney chair.
