A Craftsman Dedicated to Showcasing the Beauty of Hawaii
About
Robert Lippoth Biography
Robert Lippoth specializes in creating astoundingly beautiful custom koa wood furniture. Since 1998, Robert has worked from his woodshop on the pristine island of Maui Hawaii. The koa wood furniture he creates is made from endemic and indigenous wood species found in Hawaii.
As a skilled craftsman, he believes in using only the best grade curly koa wood and local Hawaiian wood
His signature style mimics flowing lines, tapers, and curves found in nature. As a result of careful attention to detail and hard work, Robert is known for creating heirloom-quality koa wood furniture that reflects the awe-inspiring colors, harmony, and beauty of the Hawaiian islands.
Robert has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Woodworking and Furniture Design from Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. His expertise also includes Interior Design and Architectural Millwork.
By Garet, Barbara - Publication: Wood & Wood Products
Date: Thursday, October 1, 1998
Less is indeed more at Design Emphasis '98 where the best of 170 projects became Award Winners.
About Koa Wood Furniture
By Robert Lippoth
Fine custom koa wood furniture and Hawaiian woodwork fulfill the needs and tastes of the client. It gives the collector a chance to participate in the design of an heirloom. This is a very satisfying and fulfilling experience. Studio furniture is a different world, we rarely do repeat pieces. Each piece is unique and one of a kind. In my shop, I produce extremely high-quality koa furniture and sculpture.
Every detail is extensively designed
Choosing the best grade koa wood and local Hawaiian woods requires searching all available sources for the finest koa wood made by the local Hawaiian forests. Hand selecting each koa wood piece takes time and patience. I find this is an important step to designing a piece that matches creating harmony and rhythm.
Custom wood furniture is a great investment, it appreciates over time. You will cherish my pieces for many generations. This is heirloom quality and it brings me great satisfaction knowing my koa wood pieces are built to outlast my life span.
The process of designing a piece takes time, attention to detail, and communication with the client
I start with simple sketches to allow for explorations in form, scale, function. I then move towards a more refined scale drawing or color rendering. Sometimes it helps the collector to visualize the piece in 3D with a scale model.
I also do full size working drawings and with chairs I always make a full-size model to sit in and preview the chair to come. This helps make sure it is comfortable for the client. At this point, we can still make changes if necessary. This also allows for fine-tuning proportions and help give a better idea of what to expect and a chance to see if it is a good fit and comfortable. This full-size model is essential to making comfortable, successful chairs.
Article by Wikipedia
Koa is a large tree, typically attaining a height of 15–25 metres (49–82 ft) and a spread of 6–12 metres (20–39 ft). In deep volcanic ash, a koa tree can reach a height of 30 metres (98 ft), a circumference of 6 metres (20 ft), and a spread of 38 metres (120 ft).
It is one of the fastest-growing Hawaiian trees, capable of reaching 6–9 metres (20–30 ft) in five years on a good site.
