Robin Wade Furniture

Robin Wade Furniture

Art

One of the most talented wood craftsman in northwest Alabama is Robin Wade. His furniture studio in Lexington, Alabama, produces organic “American” wood furniture. Wade attended the University of North Alabama as a young man, and started his wood furniture business during the mid-2000s at the age of forty-nine. His approach to furniture making is not based on money, but instead “is a celebration of nature.” Wade’s process is unique. All of the wood that Wade uses is local Alabama wood that has fallen because of either natural causes or human intervention. His crew is on standby to pick up trees and logs and once the wood has been brought back to the shop it goes through a slow studio process, which can take up to three years. Wade allows for the wood to keep its natural beauty. He frequently donates pieces of wood to local businesses and organizations in the Florence area. For example, the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House, Florence Lauderdale Public Library, and the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Office building all have a donated piece of wood furniture.

Jesse Brock, University of North Alabama

Text:
Bobby Bozeman, “Local Craftsman Turn Discarded Wood into Works of Art, Functional Furniture,” Times Daily, August 11, 2013.
Robin Wade Furnture, “Welcome,” http://robinwadefurniture.com/#welcome-to-rwf (accessed May 1, 2015).
Robin Wade Furniture, “About Us,” http://robinwadefurniture.com/about-us/#about-rw (accessed May 1, 2015).
Robin Wade Furniture, “Our Store,” http://robinwadefurniture.com/ourstore/ (accessed May 1, 2015).

Alabama Cultural Resource Survey

2006-present

file