This project was an exploration project.  Through it, I explored different shapes and angles, new skills, and mediums. 

At the time, the metal patination process was a new skill for me to learn.  I used silver leaf on a plywood substrate for the center to achieve a seemingly smooth transition between the wood and metal.  

Applying the silver leaf seemed tedious at first, but as I got in a groove and became more familiar with how the material moved, I could better manipulate it.  To add some distressed look to the tabletop, I decided to pull on the backing paper as I applied it to create cracks and voids in the silver leaf, allowing the plywood substrate to show through.  Before spreading the glue for the silver leaf, I dyed the plywood a mahogany color to blend with the surrounding wood from which the rest of the table was made.

One of my goals in making Mountain Contemporary Furniture is to make fine furniture that is well crafted but also accentuates the other materials one might find in nature.  The dark green plate of the silver leaf after patination reminds me of a carpet of dark moss.  To achieve an elegant fine furniture feel to the piece and contain the distressed metal patination, I used automotive pinstriping tape to outline the simi elliptical shape while applying the glue for the silver leaf to stick to. This made a clean break between the plywood substrate and the solid mahogany.