Fine Furniture Artisan, New Gloucester, Maine
“Joy is in the details that make all the difference “
With over 40 years of experience, fine furniture artisan Chris Becksvoort designs and hand builds heirloom quality pieces in his New Gloucester Maine workshop. A contributing editor for Fine Woodworking Magazine for over 20 years, Becksvoort is well respected in his field and has published two books In Harmony with Wood (Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1983) and The Shaker Legacy (Taunton Press 1998) along with numerous articles.
When we visited with Becksvoort in his workshop he was just putting the finishing touches on a beautiful Shaker tall cupboard and was planning to deliver it to a client in upstate New York the next morning. He prefers to personally hand deliver and install his pieces whenever possible so that he can ensure proper care and handling during the process.
Born in Germany, Becksvoort began learning the basics of cabinet building techniques in his father’s workshop at about age 12. He credits his father with instilling a high standard for precise work and exacting details. Those years left him with an appreciation for spare, elegant design and a life-long interest in the art and science of working with wood. As a young man Becksvoort attended the University of Maine in Orono, initially pursuing a degree in forestry and wood technology, and later changing to wildlife management.
After several years of working in the DC area Becksvoort made a decision to return to Maine and cabinet making. He started doing restoration work for the Sabbathday Lake Shakers in 1976. New Gloucester is home to one of the few remaining active Shaker communities in the U.S., and Becksvoort became actively involved in preservation efforts there.
“I am eternally grateful to them for 35 years of collaboration — working with these pieces, taking them apart and repairing them has provided me with such appreciation and wonder at the incredible craftsmanship that went into even the most basic and utilitarian piece.”
Becksvoort’s early training and his education in forestry and wood technology provided him with the foundational knowledge to predict and control for the movement of wood as it ages and adapts to environmental conditions. “ I don’t know if a client who buys a piece of my furniture and lives in the Northeast today won’t decide to retire in Arizona. I want to be sure every piece that leaves my hands lasts more than one lifetime, so I pay a great deal of attention to the moisture content of the wood and use construction techniques that allow for changes over time.” He laughs and says, “ I owned a moisture meter before I owned a table saw!”
Becksvoort has used sustainably harvested cherry from Kane Hardwoods in Pennsylvania for over 20 years. “ I prefer cherry because of its structural integrity and appearance. It’s well behaved, and a nearly perfect wood for funiture.” He will incorporate other woods such as walnut, maple, ash or birch at client’s request. Becksvoort likes the solitude of working alone, and builds each piece one-at-time. He does not use jigs or computer aided cutting tools to ensure that each piece is maintains its individuality. Because the work is so labor intensive, he limits his production to no more than 30 to 40 furniture pieces per year. Even the inside surfaces are sanded and finished to ensure a consistently lovely touch inside as well as out. Every piece is signed, dated and registered and can be personalized with a hidden drawer, monogram, or other personal touch. He has built a client base over the years of several hundred, and many of his clients have engaged him to build multiple custom pieces for their homes. Others have collected Becksvoort’s work one at a time.
While most of his work is Shaker reproduction or Shaker influence, Becksvoort also enjoys working with more contemporary forms. His designs includes tables and desks, beds, cabinets, chests, music stands, as well as lighting and other accessories.
“My clients value the beauty of solid wood and appreciate things finely constructed. A desk I build for you will reward you each time you sit down to write or pull out a drawer, and will do so for a lifetime.”
Becksvoort values the practical, the useful, and the beautiful as one integrated whole – his work a perfect expression of both art and fine hand craft. You can view more photographs of Chris Becksvoort and his work at www.chbecksvoort.com .
For information about purchasing one of these extraordinary pieces please contact him directly at chbecks@maine.rr.com
Profile written by Elizabeth Conrad, Co-founder,
Common Good Market, August 2010
