The Basket Table

In April of 2018 I took a class at the Mark Adams School of Woodworking called Developing the Idea with Michael Fortune. One of the tours for the class was a trip to the Miller House in Columbus, Indiana that would help us brainstorm ideas for design. While taking our tour through the house I saw a table in the bedroom that was Mrs. Miller’s knitting table. The table had a basket designed into it to store her yarn in for knitting. So, wanting to design something different, I thought of incorporating a handmade basket positioned differently as the focal point for the table design. With the help of Fortune, who is excellent at sketching and thinking outside the box I designed this piece. I hope this piece will build the bridge between decades of hobby projects in my shop to professional woodworker.

The top and back legs are joined by 45-degree mitered dovetails. The front and legs are joined with 7/16” X 1” splines. The two legs are bent laminated.

The table is made with Pennsylvania cherry, Honduras mahogany and laced wood. The basket is hand woven from Rwanda.

It is finished with a shellac rub and wax.

19” W X 54” L X 17” T

This is my 20^th year as a woodworker and I would like to thank FWW and MASW for all the support along the way. I’ve really enjoyed learning the different techniques and being able to put them to use.

Eric Williams

Marshall, Illinois     

 

For more information on the incredible architecture,  history and inspiration behind the Miller house, visit the Newfields Indianapolis Museum of Art at https://discovernewfields.org/do-and-see/places-to-go/miller-house-and-garden.

Launch Gallery