Ron Diefenbacher Furniture
Ron Diefenbacher, the founder of Diefenbacher Tools, spent decades as a woodworker and furniture designer. Below is a gallery of some of his work.
Ron’s inspiration for his designs came from many sources, including Shaker, Chinese, and Scandinavian styles. “Sometimes a shape or a single piece of interesting wood spurs the beginning of a piece. Ideas for details come from observing the natural world, the sweeping curves of branches on a tree or the organic shape of a flower. These inspirations often guide me to create furniture with a delicate, sculptural presence. The end result is a piece which expresses a sense of detail and a strong respect for the uniqueness of wood.”
Photo credits: Randall Hyman, Natalie Pelafos, David Kingsbury
Accessory Cabinet
L32"xW16"xH74" Teak. Sculpted handles flow into the curves of this cabinet's legs. The interior features two adjustable shelves and a small removable drawer.
Padauk Display Cabinet
L20"xW10xH36 Padauk and Ebony. This is an elegant cabinet designed for the display of fine objects. The sculpted ebony handles accent the strong vertical lines of the framework. Glass panels and glass shelves allow for maximum viewing of displayed items.
China Cabinet
China Cabinet, L36" x W14" x H84" Cherry. An elegant cabinet for storage and display of fine objects. Design features include a gently bowed front with two storage drawers below and glass-paneled display doors above. Upper sections has two adjustable shelves.
Conference Table
L84"xW42"xH30" Padauk and Ebony. The round ends set this table design apart from the Cherry Dining Table. The veneered top is inlaid with strips of padauk wood running across the grain. The solid wood base is assembled with mortise and tenon joints.
Large Side Table
Large Side Table, L80"xW21'xH34' Walnut and Lacewood. This piece is highlighted by bold sweeping curves of the supporting legs. Contrasting woods and bright red accents add interest and variety to the design. Joinery is mortise and tenon with sliding dovetail drawer joints.
Chest of Drawers
L48"xW22"xH36" Koa. A modern interpretation of classic Chinese furniture motifs crafted of flamboyant koa wood. Frame and case work joined with mortise and tenon joints while drawers are dovetailed.
Cherry Dining Table
Cherry Dining Table, L72"xW42"xH30" Cherry and Ebony This veneer and solid wood table has two extensions leaves which bring the length to 10 feet. The curved pedestal legs, slats and round disk all were employed to impart a geometric theme to the overall design.
Maple End Table
L24"xW14"xH30" Maple and Ebony. Cousin to the Walnut Side Table, this piece is similar in design and construction. Intended as a lamp table is has a small drawer and lower shelf to store living room "paraphernalia."
Coffee Table
Walnut Side Table
L42"xW20"xH30", walnut and maple. The geometric motifs of this design suggest a "Southwest" influence. The contrasting maple accents the angular shapes and lines of this table. Mortise and tenon joints connect aprons to legs and the drawer joints are hand cut dovetails
Round Table
Walnut with veneer top.
Writing Desk
L46"xW24"xH45", Padauk. This writing desk is designed for the person who prefers to work standing or perched on a stool. The tow upper drawers hide small desk clutter while the cubbies on either side organize stationery and paperwork. Mortise and tenon joinery with handcrafted dovetail joints on drawers.
Table Detail
Detail of the Writing Desk. Gouge marks were left as a decorative touch inside the carved locus of each leg.
Arm Chair
Armchair with bent lamination arms and woven seat.
Rocking Chair
Rocking Chair, L42"xW24"xH40" Padauk. This exceptionally comfortable chair combines beauty and function. Graceful line of the upholstered back accentuate the sweeping curves of the high padauk framework.
Universal Lamp
Floor Lamp, L24"xW14"xH69" Red Oak. Tapered steam-bent laminations of red oak form the sweeping curves of this tripod floor lamp. The sculpted shape of the shade is turned on the lathe by the "reverse turning" method
Century Lamp
L18"xH84", Maple and Moradillo. The alternating light and dark woods sweep upward in a column, blossoming into a beautiful light sculpture.
Music Stands
Glass Coffee Table
L48"xW27"xH20" Ash and Walnut. The one-half inch thick glass top floats above this gracefully sculpted ash base. Exposed mortise and tenon joinery with walnut wedges accent the design.
Drawer Detail
Bird Lamp Full
24" base x H84" Teak and Ebony. Half lamp, half sculpture the Bird Lamp has a 300W halogen bulb inside a spun copper bowl. The hand carved, ebonized walnut birds seem to be perched around the bird bath. Slip joints join the angular leg components and ebony accents contrast with the teak frame
Bird Lamp
Close up of the Bird Lamp.
Bird Lamp Detail
Close up of the Bird Lamp. The birds were modeled after marsh birds near Pescadero, CA
Sideboard
Oak storage cabinet with ebony handles designed for a church.
Jewelry Box
Cocobolo wood with ebony trim
Upholstered Armchair
Armchair by Ron
Small End Table
The top is a slab from a burl
Small Cabinet
Maple with ebony details and granite top
Grow Chair
A dining room chair for children with an adjustable seat. As the child grows, the seat can be lowered.
Display Cabinet
Display Cabinet, L48"xW14"xH60", Cherry and Birdseye Maple. This playful design was created to house a large collections of classic cartoon figurines. Construction techniques include mortise and tenon joinery, veneered Birdseye maple columns and etched glass door panels
Lacewood Cabinet
Walnut Coffee Table
Walnut Coffee Table by Ron
Bookshelf
Cherry with laquered columns
Tulip Lamp
Totem Pole
Checkerboard Table
Checkerboard table by Ron
Concave Table
The grain of the maple determined the shape of the top.
Quail Sign
A name sign with hand-carved quails perched on top.
Cupboard
Calligraphy Woodcut
To make this woodcut, Ron first wrote a traditional Japanese-style calligraphy and transferred it to wood. He made a relief carving of the characters, which was then used to make the print below.
spindle bed
mirrored cabinet (2)
