(L. Kent Merrill, Fine Furniture Maker)
 

 

Kent Merrill's Artist Statement

Techniques: I use hand planes, chisels, scrapers, a spokeshave and a tenon saw, along with appropriate power tools to make furniture out of selected hardwood lumber. Most importantly, each piece is handcrafted with the Creator’s gifts and my love. Traditional joinery, such as hand cut dovetails, haunched mortise and tenons, sliding dovetails and stopped sliding dovetails is used to maximize the strength of the furniture. With this extra care you can expect your heirloom to last for generations. Upon completion of each piece, I personally sign it with an inscription, the date and my name.

Materials: I personally select solid, kiln or air-dried, Appalachian hardwoods for color and grain patterns. Wherever it is appropriate, I like to use rare, highly figured woods such as curly cherry. The differences in color and grain patterns assure that each item will be a unique, individually crafted piece of fine furniture.

Finish: I do not use spray finishes. The extremely hard finish is composed of many hand-rubbed layers of a combination of oil and varnish, topped off with a thin coat of premium wax. It is resistant to damage from water, alcohol and heat.

I have been making fine furniture full time since 1999 and have been a member of the Tennessee Association of Craft Artists, the Southern Highland Craft Guild and the Furniture Society since 2002.

I can usually be found in my shop nestled in a hardwood forest overlooking the beautiful mountains outside of Jonesborough, Tenn. Visitors are welcome. Please call ahead (423) 753-7079.

 

161 Sycamore Drive
Jonesborough, TN 37659-5811

 

(423) 753-7079
(423) 943-5947
(423) 753-7079
 

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http://www.craftguild.org/kentwood

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