+ JA COB MAY D E S I G N
Oakland, California-based design company Jacob May was founded by woodworker and designer Dave Ball. The company specializes in producing classic American furniture and furnishings that are simple, elegant, and BUILT TO LAST FOR GENERATIONS.
EVERYTHING I COOK, I CUT ON MY BOARD. -Dave Ball, designer and proprietor of Jacob May Designs
Each piece from the Jacob May studio is hand-made and takes over six hours to craft. This attention to detail and craftsmanship means only 200 boards are made on average per year.
All of Jacob May’s lumber is sourced domestically from the Midwest. As a rule, Dave never uses exotic wood in his work. “I have a great relationship with a local lumberyard. If a batch of good looking lumber comes in, they give me a call.”
Woodworking started as a hobby that I escaped to in the evenings. It began consuming more and more of my energy until I felt like it would be irresponsible of me not to quit my day job and pursue the craft full-time. Photo: A wall of photographs in the Jacob May workshop.
B E AU TIF U L A S A BA C KDROP FOR S E RVI N G To get the patterns I have to do several extra steps, each of which require great precision, that are not involved in making other cutting boards.
The design community is very much alive and thriving in Oakland. I have many friends and resources within a ten minute ride of my wood shop. And people throughout the Bay Area have a great understanding and appreciation for one-of-a-kind, handmade objects.
AVAILABLE AT COYUCHI.COM