Xavier Mas, the master cabinetmaker who loves wood as an essential part of nature

Our readers know of our interest in craftsmanship and artisans and their increasingly frequent collaboration with architects and interior designers. Today we introduce you to Xavier Mas, master cabinetmaker, who passionately enjoys his craft and transmits us his love for trees and wood, he tells us about it.

I studied fine art and after graduating in 1990, I began working in contemporary art museums while exploring carpentry as a way to sustain my passion for painting and art projects. So I started in the world of carpentry, creating sets for filming, at the same time that I was involved in the production of exhibitions in prominent museums such as the MoMA, the Guggenheim and the Joan Miró Foundation.

Although my love for art was undeniable, and in fact I was awarded two FAD Prizes for the creation and direction of the project La Ciutat de les Paraules with the Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona, I decided to make a radical change and dedicate all my time and energy to woodworking: from being a part-time carpenter I went on to immerse myself completely in the art of cabinetmaking.

At the beginning of this new stage, I was fortunate to come across two inspiring books and two exceptional teachers. The books The Soul of a Tree by Georges Nakashima and The Cabinetmaker’s Notebook by James Krenov introduced me to the more artistic dimension of cabinetmaking and taught me to revere wood as an essential part of nature. On the other hand, my two masters, Jacques Vanlommeren and Pere Mascarell, not only shared with me their technical knowledge, but also guided me to discover the human essence behind each piece of craftsmanship.

Wood became my true passion, and as I often joke, I have become a true ‘woodoholic’. In 2021 I obtained the title of Master Cabinetmaker, an honour that the Generalitat de Catalunya awards to a single craftsman in the woodworking guild each year, in recognition of the excellence of his or her work.

Wood is a treasure, suddenly you see some trees that are unrepeatable and, when you learn to read the wood, you can see in its grain the life it has had, the winters it has gone through, when a branch broke ….

The word respect sums up what I do. Respect for the craft: I am impressed by how it has been passed down from father to son, from master to apprentice, over the years. And respect for the tree. It is clear to me that we are working with something that was a living being. Trees have been on this earth long before us, they give us life, and the minimum is to do the best you can when you use them. As the designer George Nakashima, author of the book The Soul of the Tree, said, we are taking what is left of the tree and extending its life.

More and more people want objects that last and value the process of creating bespoke furniture with sustainable woods, processes and finishes. My aim is to make the most honest furniture I can that will last for generations.

Some sustainable trees I work with

Cedar garden

This cedar was the first tree I acquired without drying out, 101 years of growth and an impressive 9 metres in length divided into three pieces, two of which we already used in The Fallen Tree project. However, we still have the best part left: the lower section, wider and with fewer knots.

Cedar is noted for its characteristic aroma, which persists even after varnishing. For this reason, my teacher Pere Mascarell called it Garden cedar and used it in the interiors of wardrobes, as the essential oils it contains help to repel xylophages.

Details
Species: Cedrus Sp
Origin: Fageda d’en Jordà, Catalonia,
Cutting date: 2019
Measurements: approx 250 x 110cm

Poplar root

The root poplar, also known as poplar magnifying glass, stands out as one of the most fascinating peculiarities within the Populus family, to which poplars and poplars belong. These trees are characterised by their fast growth and soft wood, but their uniqueness makes them a valuable option for table making. Using two open book-shaped pieces could further enhance the beauty of this wood.

Details
Species: Poplar – Populus sp.
Origin: La Moixina, Catalonia
Cutting date: 2022
Measurements: approx 250×80

Dark-hearted olive ash

Every day I am more and more captivated by the ash tree. Especially when it shows its olive tones, like the one I carefully selected from a large number of sustainably cut trees.

I clearly remember the thrill I experienced when I saw the dark veins appear as the planks were being cut. The unique beauty of this particular tree is due to the specific cut intended to highlight the palm, the moment when the trunk splits into two large branches, creating the most attractive and curly veins.

Details
Species: Fraxinus excelsior
Origin: Finca Palou Xic, Catalonia
Cutting date: 2021
Measurements: approx.250 80-110cm

The challenge of integrating the essence of the tree into interior design

The challenge, in each of these pieces, has been to reconcile the personal experience and qualities of a unique tree with the needs of a specific interior design project.

Sirakawa, a table like a river

This is a signature project, commissioned by Bilbao Interiorismo in 2023, for a private client located in the Ría de Urdaibai Natural Park. We used two planks of olive ash, carefully dried for almost three years, to bring this unique piece to life. Coastal edges merge into an open book design, accented by a black resin that creates a captivating River Table effect. Solid solid iron legs complete the design, providing a touch of modernity and plenty of stability.

Details
Two consecutive open book planks
Final size: 464cm long, width between 130-150cm
Height: 75cm
Edges: coastal
Finish: extra matt varnished
Species: 2 open book planks of Fraxinus excelsior

Other projects carried out

The Fallen Tree
A project commissioned by MisMas Interiorismo for the French company Papernest. What made these tables really special was the 101-year-old, one-metre-diameter cedar cut in 2019 in the Fageda d’en Jordà Natural Park. One of the first locally sustainably managed trees that we transported, cut and dried ourselves.

Parlament Lausanne
Bonell i Gil Arquitectes commissioned us to manufacture their Lau table for the Parlament Vadois restaurant in the Swiss city of Lausanne. In addition to the manufacture and varnishing, we also took care of the export and assembly of the pieces on site.

The Walnut Project
Sarquella i Torres Arquitectes chose us to carry out this project for the London interior designers Studio Ilse for a private client. Oak floors, lime walls and furniture in oak and American walnut finished in oil with chestnut ribbon braiding made by the artisans Marta Penina and Miquel Serra. Minimal aesthetics with natural materials.

Japanese cedar bathtub
One of my favourite projects. A cedar wood bathtub for a lover of Japanese culture. The piece is made with the same technique used in Japan to prevent water loss. The water flows from a spout decorated with a kumiko panel with the ‘asa-no-ha’ or hemp-leaf motif. The bathtub was placed on a platform and in front of a wall also made of cedar in an open-book symmetry. A cabinet with two washbasins and drawers completed the ensemble. The whole set is finished with oil.

Project by Xavier Mas