John Cameron’s Ming Chairs
Discover how Cameron designed and built his Chinese-inspired chairs.
Mar 29, 2013
John Cameron lives on the East Coast in the small town of Gloucester, north of Boston, and builds furniture in a one-man shop there. But much of his inspiration as a furniture designer comes from the West Coast, where he studied under James Krenov in the early 1990s, and from the Far East: from furniture makers who worked in China centuries ago. In Cameron’s stunning new chairs, what’s above the seat reflects the shapes and detailing of elegant Ming Dynasty “official’s hat” chairs. From the seat down, the structure is distinctly Western: the legs are joined with seat rails rather than piercing a mitered frame as in the Ming originals, and Cameron dispensed with stretchers and spandrels.
Cameron is also an admirer of Hans Wegner, the Danish chair designer who himself drew on Classical Chinese furniture for inspiration. In this audio slide show, Cameron describes the process of designing and building his new chairs.
For more details about the chairs, see Chair Fuses Best of East and West
Comments
Beautiful.. Simply Beautiful.. Great Clip!
A Video Workshop - Please!
Once again, excellent profiles like these keep me in the game with FWW. Keep up the good work Jonathan.
I'll second that...a video workshop would be awesome!
This work is nothing less than inspiring. I particularly appreciate Cameron's attention to the tactile elements of the chair. How true!
I have a desire to start building chairs and I must admit I'm very intimidated by the process. I appreciate the insight this clip provided. I'm not sure my artistic abilities can match my desire to build chairs like this....I guess the best way is to start. Thanks!
I would like to have you offer plans for this chair like you have other chairs. These are unique and interesting shapes.
I was impetuous enough to email Mr. Cameron asking for construction plans for the crane chairs. After visiting his website http://www.johncameroncabinetmaker.com/index.html and researching his work, I'm a bit embarrassed now. His process is so meticulous and creative; one shouldn't presume to trouble a master.
To RWSmith13, Designing~Creating
I read your comment.
‘’I have a desire to start building chairs and I must admit I'm very intimidated by the process. I appreciate the insight this video clip provided.
I'm not sure my artistic abilities can match my desire to build chairs like this....I guess the best way is to start. Thanks!’’
After reading it, I realized a ‘’profound-ity’’.
When creating or designing ‘something’, you start with an inspiration, then sketch out, doddle, dream and test your ideas.
Eventually weeding out all that isn’t important to this particular ‘thing’ you want to create.
The creative process of designing, building or ‘doing anything’;
is expressed in my edit of your comment.
I have a desire…
.... the best way to achieve a desire is to start.
I enjoyed working with your comment
Designer-Craftsman
Birdie Miller
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