Both crafted in London – a table as gorgeous as the denim it displays.

Blackhorse Lane Ateliers - London’s only craft jeans maker - asked us to make a table for their new Soho store.

We used timber from a black poplar tree we salvaged from the Old Kent Road. The wood features striking 'mappa burr' - swirly figuring caused by irregular cell growth in the tree. These distinctive patterns turn nature’s imperfections into something highly prized.

See below how our table came to life – starting with the misshapen log we milled it from. It goes to show what you can uncover when you use urban trees to make furniture not firewood.

An old tree is felled
Our story begins in south London where a black poplar tree was felled due to old age by local tree surgeons. Keen to avoid chipping the wood (which is what normally happens in London), they offered it to us. 

Onto the mill
Back in our timber yard, the hefty poplar trunk is lifted onto the mill. Black poplars live for up to 200 years and their bark is typically thick with lumps and knobbly bits. It's hard to believe anything beautiful will come from it.

Slicing slabs
We use our trusty Wood-Mizer bandsaw to mill the log into multiple tree-width slabs. There's something magical about cutting into an old tree for the first time. And trepidation too - will the wood be any good?

The first sawn boards
It's superb – the freshly cut timber is richly-figured with ‘mappa burr’ – swirly figuring sometimes found in old black poplar trees. They use it to make luxury furniture, musical instruments and even car interiors. 

Timber seasoning
Before they go anywhere, the boards must be left to season for at least a year. Carefully stacked, they gradually lose their moisture and become harder. Finally, after a couple of weeks in the wood kiln, they're ready to be used to make furniture.

Crafting the table
The painstaking processes of selection, cutting, flattening, thicknesses and more begins. We'll talk more about these in a future newsletter. Here’s Tom, finishing up the final sanding. 

Shining bright
After a few coats of natural wood oil, the table's gorgeous surface sparkles like a gem. Nature is full of wonderful surprises. 

In store now
Today, this one-of-a-kind table takes pride of place at Blackhorse Lane Ateliers’ Berwick Street store in Soho, a fitting stage for their handcrafted jeans and clothes.
 
Every piece we create tells a story, and it's a pleasure to share this one with you.

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