A commitment to wood
- Chaska opened her workshop while she was still an apprentice
- She plans to train other women in woodwork
- She work with wood out of consideration for the environment
Chaska Schuler is a Swiss woodworker and restorer who is drawn to wood for its timeless and versatile qualities. As a trained furniture maker, she completed additional training in furniture design, manufacture and restoration at the Chippendale International School of Furniture in Scotland. She attended an introduction to Japanese carpentry and joinery under the guidance of master Takami Kawai and designer Wataru Kumano, and refined her skills as a furniture restorer at the Guillaume Bourgoin workshop in southern France. She is currently attending the Goering Institute in Munich, specialising in restoration of furniture and wooden objects. Why wood? “This living material not only has a unique and diverse beauty, it is also the best choice for me out of consideration for the environment. If managed sustainably, wood is a renewable resource. It allows me to transform my ideas into unique creations,” she says.
Discover her work
INTERVIEW
When I built a monochord in elementary school, the instrument maker told me that he exclusively used male spruce wood for his zithers because it produces a richer sound compared to female wood. This fascinated me and I began to take a keen interest in this living material.
After my apprenticeship as a furniture maker, I attended the Chippendale International School of Furniture in Scotland, followed by training under Master Takami Kawai and designer Wataru Kumanu. I also learnt restoration in the workshop of renowned restorer Guillaume Bourgoin. His tireless dedication to restoring furniture and wooden objects was instructive and inspiring.
It is deeply rooted in my fascination for craftsmanship and the beauty of historical pieces of furniture. From a young age I was fascinated by the uniqueness and timeless elegance of antique furniture.
In addition to my mentors, there are three personalities who have a significant influence on my passion for this craft: Antoni Gaudí, the famous Catalan architect and designer, George Nakashima, a significant woodworker, architect and furniture maker, and Sam Maloof, an outstanding furniture designer and wood artist.
