Roundover Stool

The deep teal finish reveals something unexpected about contemporary ash furniture. Jesse Butterfield's Roundover Stool captures pigment unevenly across the grain, creating natural variations that industrial processes typically eliminate. Each of the three curved segments forming the clover-shaped seat tells its own story. The large roundover bit technique exposes continuous bands of color and texture. This isn't just about aesthetics—it's about embracing material unpredictability. Butterfield's approach positions the wood as an active collaborator rather than passive medium. The substantial turned legs anchor the piece while the distinctive trefoil form challenges traditional stool geometry. European ash becomes both canvas and sculptor here, its natural variability driving design decisions rather than constraining them.

This methodology reflects broader shifts in contemporary making, where designers increasingly work with rather than against material properties. The piece speaks to collectors seeking ash wood furniture that carries conceptual weight alongside functional beauty. Butterfield's research-driven practice resonates with current discourse around sustainable design and material honesty. The 40cm height makes it versatile for various interior contexts—side table, extra seating, sculptural accent. At The Oblist, we see growing interest in pieces that document their own creation process. This stool rewards close examination, revealing how surface treatment and structural form emerge simultaneously through careful handwork and material sensitivity.