News & Resources - Customer Focus
C.H. Becksvoort
Joy is in the details
Four decades of experience in custom, architectural, and furniture shops, led Chris Becksvoort to open his own studio on a dirt road in New Gloucester, Maine in 1986. That may be 40 years of experience, but experience doesn't always translate to a love of wood. In Chris's case, it does.
"I take wood movement seriously. All my moldings are dovetailed...and each dovetail is hand-cut with saw, chisel, and mallet...there are no sapwood exteriors...I take grain matching to extremes...all interior surfaces are sanded and finished...all wood knobs are hand-turned...In the long run, using time honored joinery techniques results in a well-designed, well-built piece of furniture that lasts 100 years. To my way of thinking, that's always preferable to furniture that can be bought at one quarter of the price, but has to be replaced every ten years." -Chris Becksvoort
Fifteen Drawer Chest
(C.H. Becksvoort)
I work alone
There are very few craftsmen who work entirely alone. Chris Becksvoort is one of them.
"Each piece I make is designed, laid out, glued up, sanded, constructed, and finished by me."
Maybe that's why his pieces are so highly sought after. He constructs each one individually, taking as much time as he needs to achieve perfection.
CD Storage Unit
(C.H. Becksvoort)
"I build only thirty to forty pieces each year and have a backlog of from 6-12 months, sometimes longer. Because every piece is made individually, I welcome requests to build a special size or include a small drawer, a secret compartment, or a carved monogram."
Each piece of signed, dated, and registered. And for larger furniture, a silver dollar, of the year of construction, is hidden within the finished piece.
The wood itself makes a difference
Using native, sustainably harvested CollinsWood is more than a simple preference to many high quality craftsmen. And Chris is no exception.
"I choose to use FSC-certified cherry from Kane Hardwood because they practice sustainable forestry. No cut and run clearcutting here. The amount of growth equals and exceeds the amount harvested. These folks are in it for the long run, and with my background in forestry, that's something I value."
Arch Table (C.H. Becksvoort)
No chemicals here, thank you
Chris is adamant about additives of any kind.
"No plywood, no particleboard, no toxic chemicals - just pure, unadulterated linseed oil and sustainable harvested cherry."
Craftsman, writer, teacher
...and OK, snow shoveler
You can't live down a dirt road in Maine and not be wedded to your snow shovel. As Chris says, "We have nine months of winter and three months of poor sledding." All of which gives him plenty of time to write books, such as "The Shaker Legacy - Perspectives on an Enduring Furniture Style" and dozens and dozens of articles as a contributing editor since 1989 to the magazine, Fine Woodworking. Toss in the workshops he gives around the country and you can see how the man from Maine stays busy.
A peek at perfection
There are tables and desks, chairs and beds, lighting and accessories, cases and music stands that make up the Becksvoort portfolio - plus other pieces on request. Each is made to order with your exact specifications. Visit Chris's website at www.chbecksvoort.com for more details and furniture options.
Contact Information
C.H. Becksvoort
Box 12W
New Gloucester, ME 04260
207.926.4608
Four-drawer Chest
(C.H. Becksvoort)
Onion Light
(C.H. Becksvoort)