Lake Table and Ten Chairs of Ipe

Mike Lyon — Tue, 25 Jun 2002 18:27:31 +0000

This was a major project. A large table and ten chairs for our home at Lake Lotawana. The wood for the table base and chairs is all ipe (ironwood) which is extremely dense and heavy (it sinks in water). The wood is unfinished and weathers very well, but I later had to beef up the joinery with large brass screws into tapped holes.

I was looking for almost line-drawing elements in the chairs and wanted them to be delicate looking but very strong and comfortable — I think I succeeded! I constructed several prototypes before settling on the Lincoln Log style half-lap joinery throughout. I think they’re beautiful!

Table and ten chairs, 2002, unfinished ipe with close fit glued (later screwed) half-lap and saddle joints, glass table top 60" x 88"

some of the prototypes in studio

chair parts after shaping

chairs partially assembled

completed chair

yet another view

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Lake Table and Ten Chairs of Ipe