James Torble

Loose Fit Furniture

Furniture maker

Furniture pieces with a playful twist

James prides himself on building furniture with handcrafted joinery
He draws ideas from the East Sussex woodland and local second-hand shops
Inspired by his farrier grandfather, he was able to transform a lifeboat into a houseboat

James Torble discovered his passion for making in his childhood thanks to his grandfather, a farrier who taught him all about metalworking, horseshoe making, and the discipline required to be a craftsperson. James gained his first class BA (Hons) in fine art at Central Saint Martin’s in London, and briefly worked as a conceptual artist. He developed his skills in furniture making and design while working on the refitting of an oil rig lifeboat, and continued to teach himself cabinetmaking in his grandparents’ garage. This led him to open his own workshop in 2018, Loose Fit Furniture. James' mission is to handcraft all his furniture using locally sourced British hardwoods, with traditional techniques, and to adorn them with thoughtful and playful details that highlight the natural beauty of solid timber.

Interview

How did you become interested in this particular craft?: During my twenties, my partner and I purchased an oil rig lifeboat and refitted it to become a houseboat. I enjoyed the process of designing and creating the furniture and kept coming up with more ideas of pieces to make.
What specific techniques do you apply?: I apply a diverse range of joinery techniques, consistently prioritising the tactile and precise nature of hand tools, such as the dovetail and the mortise and tenons joints. Additionally, I work with staked chairmaking, inserting round tapered mortise and tenons that tighten with use.
Does your surrounding landscape influence your work?: In East Sussex, we are surrounded by picturesque managed woodland, some of which provides the most beautiful timber for furniture making. I am also constantly looking at local second-hand junk shops for inspiration from the vernacular furniture of the region.
What aspects of your profession do you find most fulfilling?: I love letting the timber speak to me and reacting to what it demands. Reading the grain of the wood is crucial in deciding how I work it with my tools. I like how patterns can be accentuated by how I shape them. Working with wood is a constant challenge and it keeps me honest.

James Torble is a rising star: he began his career in 2018 and he started teaching in 2021