Stefan Knopp's initial journey takes him back to the source — the forest.
Mature trees, often surpassing 200 years in age, are meticulously chosen.
The wood for Stefan Knopp's tables is extracted from the core of these majestic giants, each boasting a diameter of at least one meter.
The primary challenge lies in deciphering the external marks of the trunk, dentifying prominent features, and later showcasing them visibly.
Following three to four years of meticulous storage and drying, the raw material is crafted to accentuate its distinctive features, allowing the wood to take on its final form.
At every stage of the production process, the life story embedded in the tree unfolds. Washing accentuates the texture, cooling highlights distinctive features, and the introduction of metallic pigments metallic pigments enables new dimensions.
The Rose of Jericho may seem withered and lifeless. However, upon contact with water, it stirs, undergoes a transformation, and blooms. Similar behavior is observed with wood: washing opens its pores, rendering it receptive to pigments, as well as oils, waxes, and resins, which deeply penetrate the essence of the wood.
Fire can destroy, but simultaneously, it breathes life; its influence initiates a metamorphosis. During the cooling process, wood is subjected to a flame exceeding 1000 degrees Celsius. It forms cracks and exposes inherent tensions. Subsequent brushing reveals the robust structures, creating an engaging tactile experience. The wood's expressive strength is further underscored.
Following the washing and cooling processes, the wood becomes exceptionally absorbent. At this point, color and metallic pigments are meticulously integrated into the wood, often through multiple steps. The choice of color can either accentuate or soften the natural structures.
Oils, waxes, resins, and care compounds keep the wood supple and maintain its long term quality. With the specially formulated products, Wood Soap and Wood Lotion by Schotten&Hansen, you can rejuvenate your table whenever needed, imparting additional patina.
