On a crisp Pasadena afternoon in December of 2022, a house caught fire. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the material loss was total. Among the multitude of valuable items destroyed was a one-of-a-kind kitchen table. The original was crafted by the owner’s stepfather in 2010 from old growth southern yellow pine that had been reclaimed from a Civil War era warehouse in Louisville, Kentucky. Unlike modern yellow pine, old growth pine is exceptionally dense and strong. The unusual design featured a single leg inversely tapered from top to bottom, and was stabilized by a tension bolt, which ran down through the floor to the framing below.
Bennett table commission by Keita (from Pasadena Live Oak)
Suffice it to say, it was devastating for Jeff, an artist and engineer, to lose such a unique and personal piece. Right around this time, Keita was born, with a mission to transform a growing collection of air-dried urban lumber into beautiful furniture and art. In the spring of 2024, Jeff tasked Chris and the Keita team with the mission to recreate the table.
Jeff and Chris decided on California Live Oak harvested form South Pasadena as the material for the project because of its strength, density, and unique grain. We worked with the complex grain of our urban hardwoods, and as any wood worker will tell you: wood likes to move. Ours likes to dance. To uphold our mission of sustainable fabrication, we came up with joinery techniques to stabilize the piece and allow for wood movement. Jon, with his experience in wood working with reclaimed hardwoods, helped us understand the best ways to use our stock. Jessie developed the conical base joinery, and Chris turned the base on the lathe.
We love the story of this table. Thank you, Jeff, for sharing your story and this meaningful project with us.
