Metal is at the very core of our collection. When Tom first started making furniture he began with tabletops, though he soon found his interest shifting to the intricacies of what lay beneath. He was captivated by the contradictions posed by metal and swiftly adopted it as his chosen medium for table bases. It’s impossibly strong, yet exceedingly malleable, with the potential to take on precise forms and complex geometries. He began probing the possibilities of metal 30 odd years ago, and he hasn’t stopped since. As a result, our collection is rich with different forms of the material, treated to produce entrancing effects and amplify the formal beauty of Tom’s contemporary designs. Read on to explore our range of options when it comes to handmade metal furniture…

 

Steel Furniture

 

Steel is the material which crops up most in our collection. It’s a highly practical option which offers a range of possibilities when it comes to finishes. Our standard finishes are applied through a powder coating process which creates a consistent, opaque effect. The new Phoenix console table shown here is finished partially in ‘Charcoal’ for a matte black effect. That’s set against a luminous ‘Florentine Gold’ specialist finish which is painted by hand. The contrast of the crisp black against a characterful gold creates a dramatic interplay that really elevates the geometric form of this contemporary console table.

 

 

Stainless steel is another favourite material of ours. It works beautifully for the sculptural furniture in our Skye collection. We developed a special ‘Satin’ polished effect specifically for these designs, which brings each curve and corner to life. Skye also looks great with a touch of patination, which we can apply to the interior of the ellipse to add depth and intrigue.

 

 

For outdoor furniture, Corten weathering steel is an excellent material to work with. As shown on our Arizona needle and Lily planter, it takes on a natural patina over time, developing a rich reddish hew. It holds up wonderfully to the elements, responding to its environment and continuing to evolve as the years march on.

 

 

There are several ways to treat steel which go beyond the surface to produce distinctive textures and tones. Our ‘Moon’ finish is an excellent example, which is beautifully showcased on the Lily cocktail tables. It’s produced by heating the metal to extreme temperatures before plunging it into cold and hammering to bring up layers which flake off like shards of shale. The result is a highly elemental surface with an intriguingly craggy quality.

 

 

We can also apply the hammer as a method of sculpting steel forms, themselves. In the case of our Cloud coffee table, for example, we use traditional blacksmithing methods to chip rods of solid steel into tapered spears. A great deal of heat is applied during the process, blackening the steel in turn. This approach creates an elegant, contemporary look that’s wonderfully suited to our statement furniture designs.

 

 

Bronze Furniture

 

Bronze can be a beautifully luminous material. When using bronze, we can polish it to varying degrees to produce your preferred effect. A hazy dull polish emanates light and helps to articulate the slopes and edges of designs like the Skye bench. Alternatively, we can mirror-polish it to create a reflective quality which is sure to catch the eye time and again.

 

 

The hammered metal legs of our Cloud collection can also be crafted in bronze. We take the same approach as with steel, creating a beautifully tactile, timeless effect. We can also polish the tops of the legs, adding a spark of intrigue to cap off modern designs like the new Cloud sofa.

 

 

Bronze holds a world of possibility when it comes to finishes. We can patinate its surface using a range of formulations to bring out different tones. Our perennially popular AVA dining table showcases the effect particularly well. Here we’ve gone for a ‘Moss Green’ patina, giving the table a hazy natural effect. To discover the full range of options, we invite you to explore our finishes and materials section.

 

 

For a highly distinctive piece of design furniture, we’d recommend considering a metal tabletop. We can patinate materials like bronze for an antiqued quality, coaxing out layers of depth using specially formulated elixirs. The effect is particularly intriguing when metals are mixed, as in the case of the Avebury dining table shown here. We created a segmented top which combines bronze and brass, both patinated to reveal the unique undertones of each material.

 

 

Brass Furniture

 

Brass goes a long way in introducing an added spark to our designs. We can apply it in the form of an embellishment, such as a top plate, shown here on our Balzac side table. It’s got a lighter tone to it than bronze, bringing a luminous lift to its environment. Consider applying it as a top plate to one of our pedestal dining tables, where it shows beautifully through a clear glass surface.

 

 

We can also produce brass furniture, using the material to craft table bases like that of the Avebury console shown here. We’re able to work with great precision, articulating unique geometries which intertwine to produce luxurious furniture with a modern feel. Because each piece is made to order, we can work to your preferences, treating the materials to perfectly suit your project.

 

Gold Furniture

 

For those looking to go well above and beyond the norm, we’re always prepared to go there with you. We can even work with gold when bringing our furniture designs to life. In the case of this special edition Edge dining table, we started with steel straight from the mill, preserved in its raw state. The marks of industry are left lingering under 24 carat gold plating, flickering beneath a layer of luxury. The result is a beautiful dynamic between honest, reliable steel and glamorous, glinting gold. We can recreate this effect in the form of gold top-plating on designs like our Balzac side table, charging these forms with a splash of splendour.

 

 

 

If you’d like to find out more about our diverse range of metal furniture options, please do get in touch. We’re always happy to discuss how we can work with the material in innovative ways to produce one-of-a-kind designs.

 

 

 

Text by Annabel Colterjohn