Sam Maloof, Woodworker

One of America’s most esteemed of furniture makers was Sam Maloof.  His home and shop
are a historical landmark and are available for tours.  Jerry, also a woodworker, has wanted to visit his home for a long time.  He took the three-hour (actually four hours)  master-craftsman tour led by Larry who worked with Maloof for almost thirty years.  Anna Lee took the general tour.  Each tour gave insights into the creativity of this master furniture maker.  He was an inveterate collector who amassed wood and metal discards by the dozens.  He then used them in the home he built.   His imagination extended to such ideas as having differently designed wood door handles on each side of the doors throughout his home.

When the state decided to build Interstate 210, his home was in the way.  They wanted to demolish the house but, as it was listed on the National Register, the state had to move it instead. The craftsman he hired cut the house into seven sections and moved it about two miles to its present location.  The location now includes his old home, a newer home he built for his second wife, his shop, five sheds for storing wood, an educational center, a gallery, and a visitors center. This is an exterior view of the home.

The newer home is still occupied and not included on tours.  Photos were not permitted in the house and Jerry actually had to check his camera before entering and Anna Lee had to check her purse.  We could take pictures in the shop however and here are a few.  Anna Lee was quick to point out to Jerry how clean the shop was, no sawdust on the floor. 

It is interesting to note that Maloof did not do shop drawings.  Everything was designed in his head and he kept refining his products over the years.  He was entirely self taught and never took a woodworking class.  His attitude was that, if something had a slight flaw, that was fine, it showed that the piece was hand made.  He did not finish the backs of his furniture because no one saw these pieces.   Maloof’s  famous rocking chairs sell for $25,000.00.     A beautiful baby cradle sold for $50,000.00 and one unnamed buyer had twins and bought two of them.  Here are a few views of the shop.

 A chair being made

 A seat in the raw.

 Here is a rocker waiting to be finished.

Jerry was drooling when they entered the wood storage rooms.  There were five of them and the tour included entry into two.  One single piece of wood was four feet wide by about ten high.  Jerry asked want is was worth and the response was “a lot”. 

While Jerry was on the longer tour, Anna Lee wandered the garden enjoying the sculpture.  It was too late for flowers but there is much to enjoy.

One example is the visual pun, Door Ajar.

This lady shared her garden.

The Totem Trees fill a garden plot with their whimsy.