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Custom Woodworking Business (August 1999) |
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Each of Zabari's pieces
have between 5 to 10 layers of paint on them. The pieces are
hand-rubbed to take off colors in some areas, so upon closer
inspetion, one samll section of cabinet can have three of four colors
showing through.
To further set apart
his work from standard furniture, Zabari has added his creative
touches elsewhere. "I used to do everything wood,"he says. "Two years
ago, I added the metal legs. The metal legs are actually a traditional
style of legs from wood, but i took it and made it metal.
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"And most pieces have
hidden cupboards, different openings and things that really aren't
supposed to be in regular furniture."
Zabari draws
inspiration from several areas. " I'm taking different cultures -
South American, Middle Eastern, proto-Colombian - all kinds of
primitive styles. I put them together, mix them up and create my own
kind of style, " he says.
Zabari's furniture
collection is available in limited edition piece. All pieces are
painted an finishied by Zabari, who signs the finished product.
Avner Zabari's art
furniture reflects his interests in primitive, simple pieces. Each
piece has five to ten layers of paint applied and is hand-rubbed to
achieve the desired look.
Zabari, shown here
painting a piece for "Mystic" cabinets, says he paints mainly by
feel. Each piece has five to ten layers of paint applied and is
hand-rubbed with steel wool to achieve the desired look.
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Avner Zabari makes the
first piece, he goes over the exact specifications with his employees,
who then produce the pieces 10 at a time.
The employess construct and ship the pieces, but Zabari still does the painting and finishing
touches for every piece. Each piece that leaves the shop is numbered
and signed by the artist. |
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Zabari recently moved
his operation into a 4,000 square-foot shop, with a separate
room for finishing and construction. Employees use Delta and Makita
tools along with a Ridgid panel saw from Emerson Tool Co.
Zabari approaches each piece as a box.
From there, he starts sculpting it to the shape he wants, then sands
it, and finally carves it, adding facial features or his pictographs.
Unlike the method used by most other furniture makers, the piece
assembled and then sended as a whole. "Usually, a person building a
cabinet build each piece and then puts in together," Zabari explains.
"I'm working the opposite way. Or maybe they are working the opposite
way."
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