Made from part of one side of a hide, the WF Side (table) got its name from the branding that was stamped onto the cow when it was alive. This you can imagine is a very painful thing for the cow to endure.

For a hot branding iron to work effectively it needs to be on the cow for between 2-5 seconds. If you have ever accidentally touched a red hot oven element with the top of your hand for a split second (like I have) you would of felt pain. Imagine leaving your hand on that element for 2-5 seconds, totally unbearable.

Much like the Butt 2041 stool, this WF Side table is made of an American ash timber top, with 3 separate leather legs that interweave each other. Each piece of leather was fixed to the timber and fixed around a jig that was temporarily fixed to the bottom of the top. This was then submerged into boiling hot water for about 40 seconds. It was then taken out and left to dry, still with the jig attached for about 3-4 days until it completely dried.

It was always interesting watching how the branding on the leather would react with the boiling water. Through this boiling leather process I learnt a lot, including letting go of my desire to control a process. I had to let the leather form its own landscape. I could hold parts of it to a shape, but what I did not hold down tight, the leather had a mind of its own as to where it would lay to rest.

Once I let go of control, the fulfillment I felt at being immersed in a process where the outcome was unknown was an absolute joy. Below are some images of the process for this piece:

— NOT FOR SALE —

This project was supported by Creative New Zealand: