Collection Gift Guide: The Guru of Greene and Greene
12/01/2005
Darrell Peart
“You have to be resourceful to get your hands on Greene and
Greene,” says furniture maker Darrell Peart of work by the brothers who were a
major force in the Arts and Crafts movement. Years ago, when the Tacoma Art
Museum exhibited some Greene and Greene furnishings in an Arts and Crafts
exhibit, Peart saw his opportunity. “I used my daughter to run decoy,” he says
with a laugh. “While the security guards kept a close eye on her, I wandered to
the other side of the room and pulled open some desk drawers to satisfy my
curiosity about the joinery.”
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Had Greene and Greene built a rocker for the Blacker House, it would look
like
the one pictured here ($5,600). (Click on image to
enlarge.) Professional curiosity played a big role in how Peart became a modern master of the Arts and Crafts style. More than 15 years ago, in the midst of a successful career as a cabinetmaker in Seattle, Peart’s future was transformed when a friend introduced him to Greene and Greene’s distinctive designs. He has since spent his time crafting furniture that—were they around today—Charles and Henry Greene could readily identify as their own.
“Most of what I do is an interpretation of Greene and Greene,” Peart says.
“I’m also a big fan of James Krenov, so a bit of his influence has crept into my
designs, particularly with attention to the grain.” The details, says Peart, are
what make the style so difficult from a woodworker’s perspective. “Greene and
Greene took craftsmanship to such a level that very few skilled craftsmen could
even imitate it.” Working nearly a century later, Peart admits that advances in
tools and technology have not made the job much easier. “Some of what they
accomplished still makes my head spin,” he says, referring to both the beauty of
the work and the complexity of its execution.
Peart describes a rocking chair as perhaps the most intricate piece of
furniture he has ever built. The style matches an armchair from Greene and
Greene’s Blacker House in Pasadena, Calif., but Peart made some unusual changes
to make it a rocker. “I don’t think there is a single straight line; it’s all
curves going into curves and compound angles,” he explains. “I probably spent
five weeks making jigs and templates for that single piece.”
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This sideboard ($14,250) was inspired by a design from the Thorsen House in
Berkeley, Calif. (Click on image to enlarge.)While Peart enjoys the challenges that come with designing and building custom pieces, his dream is to one day build the interior of an entire home in the manner of Greene and Greene, working closely with the homeowner and architect to construct a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. His biggest challenge, like Greene and Greene’s, is finding customers who can afford to do it right. “Unlike Stickley’s mass-produced work, Greene and Greene furniture was always custom designed and built for one specific setting. That requires clients who are willing to participate in the outcome.”
Darrell Peart, 425.277.4070, www.furnituremaker.com