American "Heron III" Console by Michael Coffey

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American "Heron III" Console by Michael Coffey

About the Item

An American black walnut wood "Heron III" console by Michael Coffey. This remarkable wall-mounted console is hand carved from black walnut and features an almond shaped, inset mirror. Coffey, a master craftsman based in western Massachusetts, took his inspiration from the heron, endowing his work with the bird's characteristic elegance. This foyer table with mirror was designed as a sequel to the Heron I Foyer Table. The table rests on one leg which takes the weight but is balanced by two lag bolts in the rear of the drawer compartment that fasten the unit to the wall. Behind the single drawer there is also a secret drawer. The mirror is mounted both to the wall and to the table top. Coffey has consistently broken the boundaries of style and functionality in the decorative arts. Born and raised in New York City, Coffey initially made a career as a social worker before pursuing art seriously in 1972. Teaching himself theory and practice, he was influenced enormously by the examples made by the likes of Wendell Castle, Walker Reed, George Nakashima, Sam Maloof, and others. In 1978, Coffey first presented his Aphrodite rocking chair, a monumental oblong curved piece of wood which excited the market and solidified Coffey’s reputation for creativity and skill. Coffey’s work stresses the relationship shared by people with their furniture. Coffey considers himself an artist, but draws a distinction between impersonal visual arts and furnishings. It is important to the artist that his creations can be used. For Coffey, defying expectations is an important aspect of producing his works. Abandoning symmetry in his designs, the artist prefers to create hollows and rounded shapes which people can fill. To Coffey’s eye, a piece which is perfectly symmetrical is also “quiet,” and does nothing to arouse questions or feelings in the mind of the viewer. Coffey continues to work in his home studio, making little distinction between his design work and his life. His bold designs are still a fixture on the secondary market, indicating the lasting value of an artist like Coffey’s style of audacious design which tosses tradition aside.

Creator:
Michael Coffey (Sculptor)
Dimensions:
Height: 86 in (218.44 cm)Width: 45 in (114.3 cm)Depth: 16 in (40.64 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Mirror,Walnut,Hand-Carved
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
21st Century
Date of Manufacture:
21st Century
Production Type:
New & Custom(Limited Edition)
Estimated Production Time:
Available Now
Condition:
Seller Location:
New York, NY
Reference Number:
Seller: F197541stDibs: LU885418268622

Shop All Michael Coffey

Michael Coffey

While he may not be as well known as the designers who influenced him, master woodworker Michael Coffey creates tables, case pieces and other hand-carved furnishings that are wholly sculptural and characterized by striking, unexpected forms — they’re provocative statement pieces in any interior.

Born in 1928 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania — where like-minded designers Paul Evans, George Nakashima and Phillip Lloyd Powell shared a studio — Coffey loved working with his hands as a child. However, a sense of youthful idealism led him to pursue a master’s degree in social group work before he endeavored to design on a full-time basis. It wasn't until 1966, at the age of 38, that he started teaching himself woodworking. Coffey was inspired by innovative artisans in the furniture-making field such as Nakashima, Wharton Esherick and Wendell Castle, all of whom are credited as pioneers in the world of art furniture.

In 1972, Coffey earned his first major design commission in the form of a collection for Directional Furniture, a manufacturer that forged an enduring partnership with Paul Evans and a favorite brand of mid-century modern enthusiasts. He continued to collaborate with Directional, working in mahogany and rare Mozambique woods, and integrating abstract carving motifs in his cabinet fronts and table pedestals. Soon afterward, Coffey established a woodworking school and apprenticeships at his Vermont farm. In 1986, he moved to Massachusetts, and, in 1991, he founded a second woodworking school, this one much larger.

Coffey sold his successful Massachusetts school to his staff in 1997 in order to focus on his furniture, as his reputation and client base had grown considerably. His profile reached greater heights in 2003, when a rocking chair called Aphrodite that Coffey had designed more than two decades earlier sold at auction for nearly $50,000. The sale sparked the interest of buyers and collectors worldwide and resulted in a slew of new commissions. Today Coffey continues to make sculptural furniture with a team of woodworkers in his Massachusetts studio.

On 1stDibs, find vintage Michael Coffey tables, seating, bookcases and more.