Raw versus Finished

Works that combine opposing treatment of materials, with one highly finished and one left raw. Often the unfinished “raw” section reveals the materials’ inherent properties and the processes it undergoes, while the “finished” part shows the results of treatment. George Nakashima’s famous “free edge” furniture, such as the “conoid coffee table”, are iconic examples; the edges of the table reveal the rough edges of American black walnut while the smooth, planar surfaces show just how the material can be transformed by cutting and polishing wood to highlight the grain.