Michael Childs

Crossing Together Michael Childs Purpleheart Top/Padouk Legs/Oil Finish 30" x 42" x 13.5" $2500

I have been building one thing or another since I was five, over 70 years or so. In 2005, I decided to build furniture of my own design that could fit in my truck, making them easier to transport and show. My ambition was to design pieces that had never been seen before. I decided to design a table with a minimum of structure. Every table I had ever seen had a perpendicular support system, either legs or a pedestal. Why not extend the legs from one corner to another, cantilevered, as long as four feet remained on the ground? What would happen? The result was a table that appeared to be walking. Then I experimented with six legs walking around the perimeter of the table top, or making the table “walk” sideways. When I saw a flat piece of highly figured purpleheart, I decided to do just that: make a serene flat surface that accentuated the wood while placing the legs in a wild dance, thus “Crossing Together.” 18

Running Table Michael Childs Lightly figured spalted maple 30" x 45" x 11" $2200

I fell in love with a piece of wood that was only fit for the garbage: it had worm holes, cracks, dry rot. It was too narrow to place the legs in the corners as I usually do, too narrow for any real functionality except to accent an entryway or fit against a wall and hold a photo or sculpture. What to do? My wife and I reconditioned the top, she cleaning up the live edge and I pouring epoxy into holes and cracks. We turned it over and soaked the wood with penetrating epoxy to stabilize the dry rot. Then I installed the legs with invisible dowels, placing them to look like running legs in both directions for the fun of it. Then she got to work sanding and sanding and both of us sanding until the whole table was glass smooth. Then we added coat after coat of teak oil until the wood was fully saturated, at least 20 coats. Thus was born “Running Table.” Click here to contact artist or for additional contact information visit page 80.