Jaw dropping Ironwood bench with live edges & branch legs, circa 1960s.
~102” L x 11” D x 14” H
It isn’t uncommon to find furniture made from live-edge lumber. There are countless styles utilizing the natural shape of the wood, from primitive to modern. What isn’t common, however, is seeing pieces made from large pieces of rare tropical hardwoods. The lack of availability due to over-harvesting and environmental restrictions makes it almost infeasible.
As far as I can gather, this was made sometime in the late 1950s to mid 1960s, but I got it from the second owner who had sparse recollection of the original owner’s statements. I do know that this was originally hung on the wall as a liquor shelf, which is surprising as (feels like) it weighs almost 100lbs. Remnants of wall mounting hardware on the back edge although I got most of it down flush with the edge itself. I figured this would be an excellent sofa table or low bench but it can be used to your heart’s content!
This piece has been fully refinished in an oil based wiping varnish and shows beautifully. Some wear still remains although such a thing helps embolden your story. I don’t know exactly what type of wood this is but the grain & depth of color is really special. Prominent streaks of yellow sapwood contrast sharply with the red/brown/purple heartwood that characterize these prized hardwoods.
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