Author Archives: Jeff Cooper

A Collection

A combination of a set of drawers and bookshelves with carved side panels, the carvings of books on shelves, selected titles I find important, meaningv and timely. Other books are represented by symbolic representations.     And zooming in to see details of the books carved on the left side Do you recognize the masterpiece… Read More »

Madonna 4 Orangutan

My newest animal chair This one particularly meaningful as an art piece because in making it I am thinking about endangered species and rainforest habitat protection. Besides supporting Rainforest Action Network I can do this to help promote awareness of the situation.

Spider Barbecue Table

which is a commemoration of a recent engagement! A table for the barbecue pit at the same property as the Spider bedroom set. Andrew’s nephew has recently proposed to Clare, who said Yes. This occurred by an older, abandoned barbecue pit on the property that now has a tree growing out of it. The figures… Read More »

Long Road Home

This table began with a large slab of pearwood from the Jere Osgood collection which I obtained when he retired. I have used parts of it elsewhere including a public art piece at the Lakes Region Community college in Laconia. It’s used pretty much as found preserving the live edge, working with the flaws in… Read More »

Small World

a Covid inspired sculpture A small piece of cherry wood, about 3 1/2 x 4 x 5 inches had been hanging around Cooper’s woodshop for years, a leftover from some project of other. One day he had an inspiration, to make it into a globe, with the idea of reconnecting amidst a global pandemic. Though… Read More »

Dining with Flowers and Birds

A spectacular dining table set Cherry tinted with dichromate Table sized for eight with two leaves to expand to 10 or 12 place settings Classically sized side chairs and arm chairs Each chair back has carvings of a different flower front and back, and each flower is paired with a different bird, insect or other… Read More »

Wentworth Coolidge Mansion

panel for the kitchen at the Bridges House, carving in progress. Depth of field is a challenge in relief carving landscapes. Cooper calls it ‘carving in a painterly way.’

A horse animal chair

with lots of carving yet to be done, showing the shadow lines where they will be carved to define the face.

Affinity 2 seat back

showing the attachment to the chair sides, the mortises ready for loose tenons to be fitted

African Burial Ground

A commemorative park in Portsmouth, NH Cooper had the honor of creating the caskets for the reinternment of thirteen of African Americans who were enslaved in Portsmouth in the 18th century, whose remains had been disturbed during a construction project. These photos show the procession and the placement of the caskets in a crypt in… Read More »

Three Quotes from Ovid

A folding screen Cherry, paldao veneer, roble burl veneer, paper 70 inches tall, sets up about 4 ½ feet long The artwork illustrates quotes from Ovid’s Metamorphasis, the story of Persephone which retells the story of how the seasons came to be. The quotes read: She was picking flowers, roses, crocus and beautiful violets She… Read More »

Interpretations

Inspired by the woods as found objects Walnut, Pearwood 16 x 32 x 34 inches tall Made from wood from the Jere Osgood collection which I obtained when he retired. The post is a remnant from one of his projects used much as I found it, the pearwood tables shaped by working around the knots… Read More »

More from the Menagerie

Children’s animal chair set with a table The table top has an assemblage of nine different veneers, for fun. To see more animal chairs [click here] Tp see animal chairs at Texas Children’s Hospital [click here]

Connected at the Hippos

and other animal benches The manatee bench is below the arch at the Jan K Platt library in Tampa, to see it [click here] You can also see a set of whale, hippo and bear at the Portsmouth  NH Library, to see it [click here] To see a black bear bench work in progress [click… Read More »