Professional Furniture Making

Syllabus

Appreciate and Learn Furniture Design
Our students learn the history of furniture, from Thomas Chippendale through to top contemporary furniture designers. Our experienced tutors develop students' practical and creative furniture designing skills.

Practical Furniture Making on our cabinet making courses
Each student will develop their woodworking skills by making at least two original pieces during the course.

Learn Furniture Restoration
Only through the study of antique restoration can students learn the widest range of techniques. This is why our students get at least three items of antique furniture to restore during our cabinet making courses.

Commercial Furniture Making Classes
Business and marketing skills are an integral part of our furniture making course. The Chippendale International School of Furniture gives students the confidence to turn their hobby and passion for furniture making into a business. In the second term the Principal offers each student one to one mentoring on their future career in furniture.

Field Trips
A programme of visits to Scotland’s top museums, workshops and private collections gives students the chance to see great pieces of furniture in context.

On Graduating
The Chippendale International School of Furniture, with its 20 year pedigree of practical furniture making, design and furniture restoration is recognised world wide. The course ends with a graduation ceremony for family and friends where the Student of the Year is announced.

This is followed by an open evening for the furniture community and the school’s network of supporters. The students' work is displayed providing an opportunity to sell.

Course Outline
Of the two original pieces each student makes, the first will be a piece in solid wood. It can be contemporary or traditional in style and will incorporate many of their new woodworking skills, including:

• Timber identification
• Setting out sawing and marking
• Joints – rubbed, mortice and tenon, dovetail, mitre, scarfed
• Basic woodturning, carving and wood bending

The second original piece of furniture will incorporate techniques learnt in the second term such as:

• Veneers, stringing, banding – including oyster work
• Brass, ivory and Mother of Pearl inlay
• Marquetry and parquetry
• Windsor chair making

Each student will complete three restoration pieces and have the option of making an original carved and gilded mirror using techniques taught in the third term, such as:

• Finishing and polishing – including planing, scraping, sanding, distressing, staining, bleaching, fading and graining
• Gilding
• Metal Work – including lacquering, burnishing, polishing and distressing
• Glass – including making stained glass panel