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vision

 The vision of Jera Wood is based on three main pillars: ecology, uniqueness and design. The three are interconnected.

 

For example, if one wants to create ecologically responsible pieces, this implies working with natural products for their finishing that influences the final look and texture of the product, therefore affects its design.

Creating the right balance between the three has proven to give the best final result.



Unique

 With Jera Wood we try to focus on making pieces that bring out the natural beauty of the wood. Every type of wood has a different look and feeling and even within the same wood species we can't ever find two that are exactly the same. That is the reason why each piece that we deliver is unique and original.

What might seem as an imperfection can actually give a unique character to a piece as it is pointed put in this example of the table on the right. Since the bottom part was cracked, a good solution was to reinforce it with two butterfly joints which created a contrast of color and shape that resulted in an interesting visual detail characterizing the whole piece.

Each flitch, each board, each plank can have only one ideal use. The woodworker, applying a thousand skills, must find that ideal use and then shape the wood to realize its true potential

-George Nakashima-
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ecology

The ecological concept is explained in four points:

 

  1. We all have responsibilities towards natural resources and that is why Jera Wood collaborates with local sawmills that deliver wood with a FSC-label guaranteeing that it is sourced from responsibly managed forests. We choose to work with locals to support fellow woodworkers and to avoid pollution caused by wood transport.

    2. Jera Wood creates durable and life lasting pieces that can be passed on by generations. For this reason, we avoid using screws and rather go for authentic wooden joints. A precise wooden connection is much stronger and can last a lifetime, prolonging the lifespan of the whole piece. Wooden connections are less used these days because they are costly and time consuming but they proved to be worth the effort. Anybody will easily see the quality difference when comparing a table made 100 years ago to a table from a big wholesale shop. We want our pieces to last, so we go for the extra effort. 
  1. For finishing the pieces we usually go for natural products such as linseed or coconut oil, beeswax or any other natural finishing products. The finishing brings the best out of the wood - a natural look and feeling with richer colors. This means that all products ask for a bit of care from the customer after they have been purchased. This amount of care is a small effort that contributes to the considerably smaller environmental impact when compared to the usage of synthetic products that usually do not demand any further care upon purchase.  

    4. We also strive to create a no waste chain in production and this is why we keep all the left over pieces from cutting bigger pieces. The left overs are then used to make items such as cutting boards or serving trays. By doing so we give a new life to these pieces in somebody’s kitchen.
design

As a designer it is my responsibility to create pieces that are functional and visually appealing. If one of the two factors is neglected, the piece risks to become unusable or unwanted. This is why I strive for an approach that includes both factors expressed in their maximum potential. Other aspects, as the ones above described (ecology, look and feel, type of joints) decide the final shape of the product. Basically this can all be brought back to the beginning of the design process where it all starts. If during the process everything was well thought over, and further technically carried out correctly, then we can expect a successful end result that is both beautiful and functional.

handmade

Jera Wood is not focused on a big production line because all the furniture is handmade. Handmade furniture means a lower production capacity but with extra eye for detail and quality. Only a handmade approach ticks all the previously mentioned demands we introduce to our work. 

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