The Essence of Simplicity

Even while in the deserts of Iraq, Brad Wolcott of Concord dreamed of creating furniture. As a cavalry officer with the U.S. Army, Wolcott served a 13-month combat tour in a remote outpost. Many days were filled with dangerous patrols, but there was downtime, and during those quiet hours Wolcott sketched furniture — what he would build, how he would build it and how he would make it his own.

In his youth, Wolcott was a kid who built things. This talent could have taken him down any number of paths, but while studying at Dartmouth he found his passion in working with wood. He spent four years at the college’s Hopkins Center Woodworking Studio, studying with craftsmen Greg Elder and Dudley Whitney. While there, he fashioned everything from Alaskan snowshoes to a Shaker-style, pencil-post bed. The experience instilled a love of woodcraft that he wanted to explore further.

After four years of military service and no woodworking, Wolcott enrolled at Boston’s North Bennett Street School when he was once again stateside. There, he learned how to work with hand tools and hone his craftsmanship. “Traditional construction techniques are the hallmark of fine American furniture,” says Wolcott, adding that he combines traditional with a contemporary feel.

Known for its clean lines and smooth curves, Wolcott’s work appears deceptively simple. A case in point is the wooden music stand called “Adagio.” Shaped like a musical note, it appears to be just four rows of wood on a curved stand fitted into a curved base. In reality, it is a master class in wood craftsmanship. There are no flat surfaces; the base required 17 strips of walnut cut sequentially from the same board. These were then tapered and laminated back together around a curved form so that the grain flows continuously. The long stem is composed of eight similarly cut strips that connect to the base with a complex angle joint. The four rows of wood that hold the music were created essentially in a vacuum, as they appear to float in the air. Imagine keeping these pieces level and parallel with no fixed frame of reference! Wolcott feels Adagio was his most challenging piece, and ultimately the most rewarding.

Wolcott works with North American hardwoods such as maple, cherry, walnut and holly. He spends one week to three months on a piece, depending on the complexity, and while he enjoys creating all kinds of furniture, he finds tables the most fascinating. “Tables have a wide range of possibilities,” he observes. “The shapes and sizes can be taken in many directions.”

Often, Wolcott adds texture to his pieces by using fur, stone, upholstery and textiles, as well as other natural elements. One example is “Kinnd,” a bowl-shaped coffee table that was turned on a lathe. The exterior is wrapped in Icelandic shearling, while the top is black walnut.

Wolcott is heartened by the success of his work, and hopes more people will appreciate fine wood craftsmanship. “I love everything about what I do,” he says. “From the creating to the technical aspect, to working with other craftspeople. What I love best is knowing that something I made brings joy to someone’s home. A piece of handmade furniture generates pleasure for a lifetime, and the patina and beauty only improve with age. It is something both useful and lovely to pass on.”