A WALK IN THE WOODS
About Us
At Joss Stoddart, we design and make furniture and objects from our workshop in the Hampshire countryside.
Our work begins with material. The form of a tree, its character and the marks left by the process of making all have a part in determining what an object becomes. Rather than imposing a design upon the timber, we look for opportunities to work with its natural qualities allowing material and making to shape the final form.
We work predominantly with British-grown timber, sourcing individual trees and boards from local woodlands and sawmills. Where possible, we also work with trees belonging to our clients, following the material from standing tree through milling and seasoning to the finished piece. This connection between landscape, material and object is fundamental to the studio.
Within the workshop, traditional furniture-making sits alongside carving, experimental processes and contemporary methods of manufacture. We are interested in what happens when established techniques are pushed in new directions creating work that feels familiar in its construction yet individual in its expression.
Every piece passes through the hands of our small team of designers and makers. The evidence of that process is something we value: a carved surface, an exposed joint or the subtle irregularities that distinguish something made from something manufactured.
Our aim is to make objects with permanence, pieces that are useful and considered, but also have a presence of their own. Furniture that becomes richer through use, carries the story of its material and is capable of being lived with for generations.
For us, making is ultimately about creating a closer relationship between material, design and place.
The workshop is the place of practice, the place where the unexplainable moment when out of a large and often heavy mass of nature a change of form begins to take place, no two pieces can ever be the same.
We provide a unique and considered service, championing British Craft and providing a tailored service for each individual and their needs. Reflecting Design through a nature first approach, highlighting the beauty of the wood we aim to encourage our clients to have their say from start to finish.
It is often said that a tree provides our most intimate contact with nature.
It is within our practice to nurture and develop this relationship with our material so as to give the wood a second life and continue to communicate its beauty.
Joss’ relationship with his material comes from a heightened sense of passion and wonder from his time spent growing up amongst rural environments. Independently studying the tree allowed him to focus on its vital functions thus building a spiritual connection to his material.
With the combination of our own knowledge and skilled technicians, we are able to source a wide range of materials to suit any client's requirements.
