About Me
I live and and work in Annapolis, MD. I became a full-time furniture maker in late 2005 after working 10 years as a Mechanical Engineer in Madison, Wisconsin. Largely self-taught, my interest in woodworking began after college when I needed two very important things: a bed to sleep on and a place to store my CDs. A lot of screws, out-of-square joints, and swearing accompanied the creation of those first projects, but the woodworking bug had stung me. Soon after came a little side table, many small boxes, and other odd projects suited to small-apartment woodworking. (This was way before I had any power tools.) Hobby became all-consuming passion after I read an article about making your own hand plane. What a revelation! After those first whisper-thin shavings came curling out of the plane I had made with my own hands, I knew this woodworking thing was my true calling...
My work is handcrafted using joinery and materials that have been shown to stand the test of time. I still enjoy using hand planes, spokeshaves, and scrapers on everything I make, and I truly believe this makes a difference in the look and feel of my work, but I do have quite a few power tools now too. My points of reference for inspiration -- Shaker, Scandinavian, and Japanese furniture of the past -- feature clean, simple lines and shapes. I like to use subtle decorative elements such as contrasting wood beading and inlays, but mainly I just try not to get in the way of the beauty of the wood.
I can customize furniture to meet your needs or I would be happy to make for you a version of anything you've seen here -- or perhaps a variation on a theme. I currently have a 8-12 weeks backlog. Please contact me with any ideas or questions. I can provide drawings or sketches in advance. I require a deposit up front of 40% of the final price. This deposit would hold your place in the project queue and allow me to purchase materials, finalize the design, etc. Balance is due upon completion.
1201 Chrisland Ct.
Annapolis, MD 21403
(443) 482 - 9240
info@josephmurphy.net
Exhibitions, Awards, & Affiliations
2008 Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. Awarded the Wharton Esherick Museum Prize for Excellence in Wood
Recent Press
Annapolis furniture maker melds form and functionality. The Capital 11//23/08