Europa II
While helping
with a history/archaeology class for college students in
Rome in January, 2008, I received a request from Steinway
to do another iteration of "Europa". Because the veneers
even from the same species vary considerably from one tree
to the next, "Europa II" would share overall look, but have
considerably different individual faces than the original.
Above is shown the completed upper face for the lid of
"Europa II", placed upside down in its shipping crate.
While the tones are quite subdued due to the veneers being
raw, not varnished, the final colors are still fugitive.
The design, however is relatively easy to read along the
darkened booking lines.
I
asked two gifted and experienced members of the Minnesota
Woodworker's Guild to work with me on "Europa II". Left
is
Will Fifer, owner and
director of Blue Sky Galleries where the veneer work was
done, I'm in the center, and on the right is
Mark Laub, owner of The
Boardroom woodworking.
The veneer on the table in the foreground is the Carpathian
Elm Burl center panel of the "Europa II" lid (top photo).
The upper surface shows white paper veneer tape at the
booking joints, and blue tape where special attention was
needed on the individual pieces.
It was marvelous to work on a project of this complexity
and significance with these skilled craftsmen.
