Wayne Burnett

The history of American woodworking is rich. Virtually the first truly skilled artists in the Colonies were our cabinet makers, who were lured here by the promise of a seemingly endless supply of fine wood — and a steady stream of customers as settlers sought to replicate the furnishings most had left behind in Europe.

Philadelphia, New York, and Newport were the centers of early American woodworking and the furniture created there was unrivaled. Each handcrafted piece was a sublime blend of artistry and practicality. Over time, the market forces of a growing middle class population led to the industrialization of furniture making. Even still, fine woodworkers continued to make exceptional pieces for the more affluent population and thus skills were passed down through generations.

Beginning in the 1960’s with the renaissance of American Crafts, fine woodworking gained momentum and, today, we are fortunate to have an ever expanding pool of talented woodworkers from coast-to-coast.

We found this superb chair by noted Indiana woodworker, Wayne Burnett, in an exhibition at the vibrant Pendleton Art Center in Rising Sun, Indiana and purchased it for our new American Contemporary Art & Design Collection. It’s a stunner and exemplifies the quality of the work being done today.