Peter Jan Brouwer

Cabinetmaker

©Henk Veenstra Fotografie

©Peter Jan Brouwer

Future heirlooms

Peter is inspired by ancient craftmanship
He seeks to pass on his skills
He studied History of Art

Peter Jan Brouwer’s furniture is crafted in homage to ancient woodworking traditions, the past being an integral point of reference for his bespoke pieces. For him a piece of furniture is well made when its “construction and design are durable and can last for at least one hundred years.” At six years old, Peter Jan was given a toolbox by his parents with real woodworking tools, which spurred him on to make things, such as his own bed and small boxes for his grandfather. Ignoring his father’s advice to pursue a woodworking career, he carved out his own path studying Art History at the University of Groningen, only to become so inspired by all the craftsmanship he saw during his studies that he ultimately ended up following his father’s advice, becoming a cabinetmaker after all.

Interview

©Henk Veenstra Fotografie

©Henk Veenstra Fotografie

When and how did you start?: I attended a college for woodworking and furniture design in Amsterdam to learn how to make furniture and after that I searched for the best traditional woodworker I could find to become his pupil. I ended up being taught by Master furniture maker Arno Kalfsvel.
How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?: I want to learn traditional skills, which were created hundreds of years ago, and pass them on to the next generation so that those skills will not be forgotten.
What is a highlight from your professional life?: A highlight is the chair I made for Masterly the Hague 2021. For this chair, I learned how to bend wood with steam. I created my own steam oven and learned this ancient technique in order to construct a very difficult chair.
How is your craft linked to your surroundings?: I always try to match my furniture with the architectural style of the building and interior. I often go to the university library and archives to search for examples of furniture of the same age and style of the building.

Peter Jan Brouwer is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2013 and he started teaching in 2020