Michael and amanda jury
Furniture makers / Artists
The Makers
Tis a Gift to be Simple
We design and build hardwood furniture and decorative woodwork inspired by Shaker, Japanese and Danish designs in our studio in Springfield, Virginia. We are both classically trained musicians, U.S. Army Veterans, furniture makers and artists. Our work is meticulously crafted and elegant in its graceful proportions, heirloom construction and subtle ornamentation.
“Don’t make something unless it is both necessary and useful; but if it is both necessary and useful, don’t hesitate to make it beautiful.”
We draw inspiration from Shaker design from the 19th century and a reverence for the forests and trees that provide the hardwood lumber that we use to build furniture. The Shakers created furniture for communal use that was impeccably made and that was a form of worship to them. To the Shaker craftsmen it was considered a sin to not do your best work. This is why their creations and legacy of beautiful design are still appreciated today. We also use the traditional Japanese art of kumiko and veneer marquetry to ornament furniture, lamps and decorative wall panels.
“Simplicity is the embodiment of purity and unity.”
The Shakers were the original minimalists. The beauty lies in the clean lines, impeccable craftsmanship and hardwood lumber. This is why Shaker design is still so popular. It fits harmoniously in nearly any home, from traditional to modern.
“Have nothing in your house which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”
Our designs are meant to age gracefully in your home and fit in like a member of your family. There is nothing like the warm glow of a cherry table after its developed a deep, rich patina after years of use. The hand-rubbed oil finish begs to be touched and the hand-cut dovetail joints admired.
The Process
We build one piece of furniture at a time using domestic hardwood lumber and employ furniture making techniques that have been in use for hundreds of years. Every piece starts with a trip to the hardwood lumber supplier to carefully hand select the finest lumber for the most beautiful color and grain. This is one of the most important parts of the build process. After the wood acclimates to the relative humidity in the shop for a few days, we begin the milling process to produce flat and square material with which to begin building. At this phase, we identify which parts are best for each part of the piece. For example, in a side table, the boards for the top are selected for the most beautiful grain and match. The legs need to have straight and vertical grain for strength and beauty. We aim for the four aprons, which are the horizontal pieces that join the legs, to have continuous grain. Finally, the drawer front and box pieces need to be straight grain so that they will fit in the drawer pocket precisely but without swelling and seizing in humid weather.
The next phase is cutting the joinery which is the engineering that holds the piece together. Parts joined at 90 degrees, such as the legs and aprons, are joined with a mortise and tenon joint. Case pieces, such as a chest of drawers or a sideboard, are joined with dovetails as are all drawers. All joinery is cut by a combination of hand and power tools, but the precision fitting is always by hand.
“Do your work as if you had a thousand years to live, and as if you were to die tomorrow.”
The Materials
“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”
We use only sustainably harvested hardwood lumber which grows in the forests of the Eastern U.S. within a few hours from my shop. We primarily use cherry, walnut, maple and ash and use a natural finish to highlight the beautiful color and grain of the wood. We do not use stains to artificially color the wood.
Walnut
Cherry
Curly Maple
Ash
The Finish
We finish our furniture with a hand-rubbed oil varnish to produce a satin luster and a sufficiently protective surface for most pieces. This is a labor-intensive process that results in a depth and richness unmatched by commercial finishes.
We do not use stains to artificially color our pieces. We carefully select hardwood lumber for both beautiful color and grain. Stain contains colored pigment particles which distort the grain and make the wood a uniform color. Most mass-produced factory-made furniture is made from inferior lumber and craftsmanship and is finished with a stain to mimic a higher quality wood. It’s then coated with a plasticky film finish. Unfortunately, the modern consumer is used to seeing furniture in different shades of brown, not as different varieties of wood. Stained wood is also very difficult to maintain. A scratch in a table top through the stain will reveal the raw, uncolored wood. The only fix for this is to strip the entire piece and refinish it.
Domestic hardwood lumber can yield a tremendous range of color. If you prefer dark furniture choose walnut, reddish brown choose cherry, and light color choose maple or ash. It will maintain it’s beauty for generations of use in the color nature intended.
The Value
“If I had to choose between clothes and furniture, I’d choose furniture. ”
In our modern, disposable society, most consumers are accustomed to buying the latest trend in home furnishings with a few clicks and a few days later it arrives on the doorstep in a flat packed box to be assembled. Unfortunately, the latest trends end up in the landfill after just a few years as furniture made of particle board and assembled with screws is only meant to last until the next fad and then be replaced. Over time this is by far the most expensive way to furnish your home and also the most impactful on our environment. A quick Google search tells me the average piece of furniture lasts 10 years. In the long run, a one-of-a-kind piece of solid hardwood furniture which will be passed down to future generations is a great value. I build with the same proven construction techniques used for hundreds of years. When you buy a piece of handcrafted furniture from M. Jury Woodworks you’re dealing with one person through the entire process from design to delivery.