Fine crafting the essentials
- Israel has been crafting fine furniture since 2012
- Self-taught, he now teaches dedicated one-on-one courses to others
- He contributes articles to furniture magazines in the USA, England and Australia
The simplicity of Israel Martin’s bucolic life in the Cantabrian countryside is reflected in the clean lines of his furniture designs. "Wood has been a recurring element in my life. It is a living being sustained by an entire chain of life in nature," he says. Israel studied forestry engineering in Madrid, but far from the emphasis on productivity of this field, he preferred to settle into a rural and paced lifestyle. This is where he feels best able to lose himself in his craft. Israel is a self-taught furniture maker and is inspired by the American Shaker movement, Japanese joinery techniques and British woodworkers. His timeless, wooden pieces such as cabinets, chests and small boxes, are meticulously crafted in hardwoods like ebony, walnut, maple, oak and rosewood.
INTERVIEW
Early in my journey, I worked on a research project in Madrid cataloguing fine woodworking tools. Handling hundreds of them gave me a new perspective and sparked a deep interest in their history, use and making, which ultimately inspired my shift towards furniture making and a passion for hand tools.
The vintage tool represents simplicity and auto-sufficiency. To use it requires enduring patience in a serene, silent rhythm I have control of. I am hyperactive, so this might seem quite paradoxical, but in fact, this craft helps me conscientiously slow down and the tools regulate my speed.
I studied with US master Garrett Hack in Germany, who introduced me to American woodworkers and the Shaker tradition. I was drawn to its utility, elegance and simplicity. I sought masters abroad to train in this style, since Spain offers very limited training in fine woodworking.
I chose a name unrelated to furniture making. It was inspired by Gypsy life and one of their street shows in Madrid in which a goat would climb up a wooden ladder. The goat is me, a freedom seeker, while the ladder symbolises structure. My philosophy is rooted in slow living, presence and a rural life.
