Having moved to Falmouth from Leicester 11 years ago to pursue a lifelong dream of working with wooden boats, three years ago Carl Austin changed careers again, this time putting his boat-building skills to good use in designing and making outdoor furniture.
His oak and larch steam-bent creations feature seats made of sail canvas framed by organic curves that together echo the shape of a wind-filled spinnaker.
The frames are made from oak, steamed and bent around formers and then laminated to retain its shape. Larch planking is then steam-bent to fit the frame and secured in place using copper boat nails and bronze or stainless steel bolts, or alternatively canvas seats are made by a local sail-maker.
“My chairs are intended for outdoor use, so incorporating proven boat-building methods them durability,” says Carl. “I finish them with linseed oil, which will naturally fade with time and weather, but can be very easily reapplied.”
The designer attributes the aesthetic of his furniture to “many happy hours sailing around Cornwall and Brittany on elderly, rustic looking craft that had never been introduced to varnish, and turned more heads than any shiny yacht.”
“My work is a direct response to being exposed to Cornwall’s maritime heritage,” he explains. “I have been fortunate enough to restore traditional Cornish working boats and build new boats – all while thrashing a 52-foot admiralty launch into shape so that it could become my home – now tucked away up a muddy creek.”
Carl’s chairs will be shown next year at Art in Action and Craft in Focus at RHS Wisley and potentially other shows, which he says he may “gate-crash at short notice.” Good luck to him!
Interesting design. Very unique and I’m loving them specially that swing and rocking chair. Would love to have those to relax and read a book on.
These pieces are very much stature like (almost). H.