RHODES CABINETMAKER
As soon as I walked through the doors of the woodwork room at Hunterville School, I knew, without a doubt, that crafting wood was a passion I wanted to pursue.
A year after leaving secondary school, I was offered an apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker with a company known as Gorrie & Witford Ltd, in Marton.
I soon learned the process of turning a solid piece of timber into a work of art by machining it through to the various sizes, assembling it, adding intricate detail (such as inlays or carving), and staining and polishing it through to the finished stage.
In 1977 I was ready to build a factory of my own and by 1981 my dreams came true. I soon began constructing one off pieces of furniture mainly using native timber of different species including - Rimu, Matai and Kauri as well as other timbers such as Macrocarpa, Walnut, Mohogany, and Oak.
During this time I was also given the opportunity to restore and re-polish furniture that had seen better days. I love refurbishing antique pieces of furniture, it gives me a great sense of pride to see them back to their former grandeur.
Over the years, I have hand-crafted various styles of furniture to meet each of my unique client's needs and I was soon introduced to the art of coach building (the reconstruction of the wooden frame work on vintage cars.)
I went on to refurbishing a variety of vintage cars as well as the inside and outside hulls of boats.
Every project that I undertake is given that special care and attention which makes a Rhodes piece of furniture the antique of the future.
STORY
© 2013 by RHODES FURNITURE OF DISTINCTION