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www.TrapWorks.com
P O Box 637
Newton, Massachusetts 02456
Phone: (617) 964-1225 . Email: gvanderesk@aol.com
Updated last: August 19, 2007
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vanDeresk®
Wine Cabinets & Other Functional Furnishings
hand-crafted entirely from antique wooden lobster traps
Always a conversation piece, a vanDeresk® wine cabinet or other functional furniture is an ideal gift …a group or individual gift … for any occasion – anniversary, house-warming, retirement, wedding … or just because!
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Why a vanDeresk®? Creations from authentic and real lobster traps. Excellent workmanship. Quality materials. Unique and original designs. Interesting engineering. Limited editions, signed and numbered.
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If a full-length (24-inch) cabinet is not your cup of wine, then consider a rack made from an authentic half of a weathered trap. Here is another vanDeresk® original.It still sleeps ten to twelve bottles. It has a part of its original netting (back) and its door opens from top. Airy and open look with easy access to the goodies!
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How many bottles do you think the vanDeresk® counter-top/table-top wine-rack below can sleep? How does 22 sound?!
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| No. 53: Wine rack |
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| side view |
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| fully loaded - front view |
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| fully loaded - side view |
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| fully loaded - rear view |
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| No. 54: Wine hammock |
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| No. 54: Different setting |
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My work honors the heritage of the sea by preserving antique wooden lobster traps in the form of unique and functional furnishings for home and office. Each artifact is derived entirely from an authentic lobster trap originating from the fishing villages along the northeastern coast of the United States and Canada's maritime provinces. I personally handpicked these relics of the sea in order to assure myself of their pedigree and structural viability.
Trapping lobster is a trade and almost a science, but building a round wooden lobster trap is definitely a work of art. I know this because I have seen them built in person. Each of the traps that captures my creative expression was actually hand-built by a lobsterman and it bears the distinctive effects of fishing regulations, community custom and individual craftsmanship.
Each trap is in itself unique, even if built by the same lobsterman. My unique trapinets (trap-cabinets) are distinct in that I re-engineer them to become wine cabinets, curios, end-tables, chests, chairs, ottomans and stands. The woodwork is hand-finished to furniture quality specifications.
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It was bound to happen ... and so here it is -- lobster trap (lobster pot) coffee-table!
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| No. 58: Coffee table |
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| No. 60: Coffee table |
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| No. 67: Companion table |
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| /aka/ half of a coffee table |
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| No. 20 |
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| No. 16 |
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| No. 18 |
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| No. 17 |
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Want a unique wedding card box or basket? Do not want to settle for the tiny toy-size replica of a lobster trap made in the Orient? Is a full-size trap just too big and clunky for the occasion? The, go with a half-trap furnishing made entirely from an authentic lobster trap! The vanDeresk® wedding card holder has a door that opens, a ring, original netting and the twine-works ensures the cards, envelopes and other deposits do not slide out from between the slats. (Click on a picture to enlarge for detail).
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| No. 46: Wedding card box |
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| No. 47 |
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| No. 49 |
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| In home or office use ... |
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| Cradles -- "bridge" |
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| Nos. 40 (single), 41 (double) |
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| Nos. 55-57 |
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| No. 55: "pi" |
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| No. 56 "rocker" |
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| No.57 "bowt" |
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| Nos. 64-65 |
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| No. 64 "dolphin" |
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| No. 65 "perch" |
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| No. 66 "bridge" |
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| No. 36: Ottoman and more |
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| with flipout top |
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| and storage |
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| No. 7 |
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| Nos. 8-9 |
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| No. 1 |
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| No. 4 |
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| No. 2 |
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| No. 1 |
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| No. 3 |
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| No. 6 |
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As display units in the trade ... |
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| No. 28 |
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| No. 21 |
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| Whimsical (miscellaneous) creations ... |
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| No. 11 |
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| No. 25 |
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| No. 26 |
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| No. 24 |
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| No. 75 The "Wreck" - representational sculpture |
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From left to right: a desktop easel, a family lawn game (named bow & ring), an outdoors flower pot holder, and solidarity (Olympics) rings -- made entirely from remnants of antique round wooden lobster traps. The game comes with instructions. |
History. TrapWorks came into being in 2004 as the result of my long standing desire to gift to a friend a wedding present that was unique and from New England. Not wishing to replicate the tired old concept of a square lobster pot coffee-table, I acquired a half round wooden trap, stood it on its side and found a way to make it more functional than it just being a resting block for a piece of glass. A variety of wine cabinets, racks, etageres and other items have followed.
The following is a periodically-updated list of numbered creations by Guy vanDeresk (arranged by type of furnishing):
Trap cabinet (trapinet): Nos. 19, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Etagere/display (trapinet minus the door): Nos. 28, 18, 9, 8
Wine cabinet: Nos. 39, 37, 35, 27, 23, 22, 21, 20, 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 7
Wine rack (half-trap): Nos. 76, 53, 52, 50
Wine hammock: No. 54
Wine bottle cradles:
Double bottle: "bridge" Nos. 82, 59, 51(re-numbered 56.1), 45, 44, 43, 42, 41
"kattumaram" No.81
Single bottle:
"bowt" Nos. 62, 61, 57
"bridge" Nos. 83, 80, 74, 73, 72, 66, 63, 59, 48, 40
"dolphin" Nos. 71, 70, 64
"perch" No. 65
"pi" No. 55
"rocker" No. 56
Coffee Table: Nos. 79, 78, 69, 60, 58
Chair: Nos. 32, 31, 17
Ottoman/bin: Nos. 38, 36
Companion table (side table, end table, lamp table, half-coffee table): Nos. 67, 16
Desk/writing surface end-stands: Nos. 30 and 29 (pair)
Chest: No. 6
Wedding card box/utility: Nos. 77, 49, 47, 46
Olympic rings: No. 24
"Bow & Ring" lawn game: No. 25
Easel: No. 11
Plant hanger: Nos. 34, 33, 26
"Wreck": No. 75
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Specifications. Typically, a trapinet stands 32 inches by 24 inches by 18 inches. The shelves are 14 inches apart, vertically. A trapinet with three glass shelves weighs about 32 lbs. A wine cabinet with two glass shelves weighs 32 lbs. Each 1/4 inch glass shelf of any model weighs about 7 lbs. The stock colors are Dockyard Gray, which is the color of the trap seen on the dock in early spring, a light sandy gray; Rustic Amber is evocative of the color of the falling leaves; Antique is a deep and stately antique brown color. I customize stain or paint finish upon request. To lift and transport, hold the trapinet by top or middle bow. The bow is the semi-circular wood to which the laths are nailed. Do not lift or carry by holding to the lath. Laths are the many slats that run up-and-down and are nailed to the bows. |
| Availability. From time to time, my work is shown at a few places on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Contact me about where you can view one in person. Pieces may also be commissioned. Please call or write and let me know what you like. |
A Testimonial that says it all...
Dearest brilliant talented Guy,
Let me first say how sorry I am not to have been able to pick up my box until today. Had I been able to, I'd have enjoyed them a couple of extra days … To quote my son, "it's amazing what you can do with a lobster trap". They're so much more than I ever expected.
I think you need WAY better pictures of them on your web site. They're just superb. I love the quality of the wood, the texture alone had me mesmerised for some time. If I could, I'd build a house with them and live in it. I love the holes, the asymmetry, and all the imperfections; they are absolutely perfect for me. And the … stain is a wonderful touch. While it protects, it allows one to see its natural beauty. I couldn't have been more pleased. I wish you had signed them in the front…..
I keep patting myself on the back for reading that snippet about you at the end of some article at the end of summer. I'd have never known about these pieces of yours, and THAT would have been a loss.
They're simply awesome. Thanks a gazillion,
M.
PS: In my life, I never imagined a decorative piece, a material thing, giving me such willie-nillies.
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TrapWorks gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Michael Michalski, Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the graphic and digital re-creation of images published on this site. vanDeresk® (USPTO Reg. No. 3,010,315) is a registered trademark. The designs herein published are the property of TrapWorks. All rights reserved.
© Copyright TrapWorks 2005 |
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