STEPHAN WOODWORKING

This table top and another table top were made from the same two sheets of mahogany crotch veneer. (A "crotch" occurs where a large branch meets the main trunk of a tree.) Crotch veneer typically is highly figured and can make very dramatic starbursts.

Two sheets of mahogany crotch veneer were ordered with the intention of making one small dining table top. When the sheets arrived, they had a discontinuity running down the center of the crotch, a bland area about one inch wide with almost no figure. After some study, it was decided to cut the sheets to remove this discontinuity, and make two hall or sofa table tops. The left side of the two sheets was used for this table, and the right side of the same two sheets was used for "another table top" linked at the beginning of the previous paragraph.

The two pieces of mahogany veneer were bookmatched, meaning they were joined as mirror images. A three part filleti was made by joining together sawn strips of black dyed marfum veneer and cross grain padauk veneer. The edges of the bookmatched crotch were trimmed and the filleti joined to it. Finally, quartersawn mahogany veneer was added as a crossgrain edging. The quartersawn mahogany was also used for the edge of the table top. The final size of the top is about 52" by 16".

This table top was made for a local arts and crafts show to demonstrate starburst decorative veneering. An apron and base have not yet been made to complete the game table.