Under Black Creek Designs, Thomas Throop designs and makes some stunning hand crafted furniture. Throop attended the John Makepeace School For Craftsmen in Wood, in England. There he was exposed to the traditions of the English Arts & Crafts Movement. Throop thrives on allowing the character of the wood he chooses to work with shine through.

A few further examples after the jump.

Simple and refined, the Footed Bowl by Finn Juhl was designed in the 1950s. A major figure in the Danish Modern Movement, Juhl trained as an architect. His initial foray into furniture and decorative arts was simply for his own needs. While his “Chieftans Chair” might be his most famous design, it certainly is not the only lasting effort from his hand. The Footed Bowl is built of teak and measures at just 7.5cm high. (via Daily Icon).

Designer Jens Fager envisions his “Raw” series as a rough interpretation of iconic pieces of furniture. All the pieces are hand carved with a buzz saw, generating a unique look with each. On top of that, they are painted in striking color from yellows to bright blues. The “Raw Table” is one of the newer portions of the collection, and in the legs evidence of the rough carving are clear. Fager’s designs are produced by Muuto. (via David Report).

Further example after the jump.

Henrique Oliveira is a Brazilian artist specializing in using found pieces of wood to create massive installation pieces. He calls these works “tridimensionals,” and finds most of his materials on the streets of San Paulo. On March 26, 2009, Oliveira opens his first solo show in the United States, at Houston’s Rice Gallery. (via CR).

Everyone loves a good historical mystery (especially those in the Antiques trade). The Bee has a short article on the story of Salem, MA cabinet maker Nathaniel Gould. Working from a single signed example, Kemble Widmer has studied Gould for 20 years. His research is indicative of the time, effort, and passion required to unveil the facts of early Americana.

Some of Gould’s work remains on view at the Massachusetts Historical Society, 1154 Boylston St., Boston, through to the end of April.

Examples and details follow.

Beauty in Common Things: American Arts and Crafts Pottery from the Two Red Roses Foundation showcases the best of the best of the foundations boundless collection of arts and crafts pottery. From Rookwood to Teco, the collection covers the major potteries of the period. The exhibition is on view until April 26, 2009, at The Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Florida. A catalog, with essays by Dr. Martin Eidelberg and Dr. Jonathan Clancy, complements the show. Full review in this week’s Bee.

Further examples of Arts and Crafts pottery after the jump.

Roy McMakin is a Seattle based architect and artist. His work is deceivingly simple, and based on simple furniture forms. Open now at London’s Established & Sons, McMakin’s Another Kountry includes chairs, a chest of drawers and ceramic objects. Catch it before March 31, 2009. (via Wallpaper*).

Established & Sons is located at 2-3 Duke Street,  St. James’s, London, SW1.

More images follow.

To celebrate the release of Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY Art, Craft And Design (Princeton Architectural Press), PowerHouse Arena will host a panel discussion with the books authors on February 11, 2009. Faythe Levine and Courtney Heimerl will be joined on the panel by Andrew Wagner, Editor-in-Chief of American Craft, and Sabrina Gschwandtner, founder of arts journal Knit Knit. The evening promises a lively discussion of the emergence and growth of the contemporary craft movement.

When craftsmanship combines with iconic design there is reason for celebration. Carlos Alberto has hand-built a wooden Vespa, and the result is simply magnificent. A work of art indeed. (Via CB).

Details follow.