Nacimiento de la Mariposa

After two years of trials and tribulations (not necessarily Covid related), I’m happy to show you the piece that Spider Johnson and I have created for the Texas Furniture Makers Show (happening now through December 17th in Kerrville, Texas). “Nacimiento de la Mariposa”, or “Birth of the Butterfly”. When we saw this incredible Roble veneer, I realized that if we book-matched 4 leaves, it would look like butterfly wings. Turns out what was very well defined tonally changed dramatically when the finish was applied, but still enough there to move forward. The biggest (of many!) challenges we faced was in making the Monarch Butterfly caterpillars – how to glue up the teeny strips of veneer to the solid wood bodies without breaking them. After many attempts, we finally landed on a great solution.

The sculpted frame of the top and the legs are Cherry. Veneers used are Roble, Imbuya Burl, Mahogany, Holly, Black and Yellow Dyed Poplar. The caterpillar “trails” are Gold and Copper metal leaf. Catalyzed lacquer finish.

Dimensions: 43” long x 38” wide x 17.5” high