Michael Pietragalla
Floating Stone Woodworks

88 Hatch Street - Loft 406
New Bedford,MA 02745
508.997.1079
800.267.1079
www.floatingstonewoodworks.com



portrait



detail


Ladies' Desk

60"W x 29"D x 27" H

This piece is calleda Ladies' Desk because it was custom made for a "small" client to be used in her home office.

The design was crucial regarding the woman's height, and the width and height of chair she is using.

Once again this piece is a reflection of Japanese interior design, particularly the drawer details and joinery.

The Ladies' Desk, part of an Office Suite with three more pieces, is made of custom stained curly cherry with anigre veneered side panels. The accenting plugs are ebony and the drawer handles are ribbon maple.


 


table top

Tea House Table

24"W x 44"L x 19"H

Influenced by Japanese art and architecture, this table is made of quarter-sawn American sycamore, figured cherry and black walnut inlay.

The top edge detail is influenced by Greene & Greene, but it is seen often in early Japanese furniture, raising the question;

"Are artists plagiarizing what has already been done?".

It is true that all visual artists study and are influenced by the Masters. Students of calligraphy and Chinese brush painting are taught by copying until they develop skill and their own style.
I am finding my own style while looking at the "masters" that came before me.

You will notice the stretchers are arched on the top as well as the bottom and the legs are mortised into (the bottom of)the table top. The underside of the tabletop is fared off slightly giving the appearance of the roofline of a Japanese house.

The walnut inlay gives a contemporary feel to the piece.


process