Like Slab, Surabu was designed for our rare collection of massive burr oak slabs. Burrs are most commonly caused by injury, bacterial infection or a fungal disease which often leads to flaws and areas of softer rotting timber. Sometimes a natural flaw has intrinsic beauty and should be celebrated, as can be seen in the dark fault line below. Areas of rot, however, have been dug out and replaced with inlay of a mosaic nature, using offcuts from the same burr slab so that the effect is one of subtle abstract geometry.
A diagonal chamfer runs along the edge of the tabletop, which seamlessly blends into the upper twist of each leg before tapering downwards. Concealing the apron by setting it back from the edge meant attaching the legs to the tabletop required innovative joint-work. Heavily influenced by the ingenuity of Sashimono (the ancient Japanese approach to joinery), the hidden joint gives the table its stability in the absence of a connecting apron. The only visible evidence is the square tapered pegs in bog oak, set at an acute angle to each corner (see close-up below).
