| 61 T T Karen Phelps Furniture crafted with artistic flair The demand has exceeded all expectations, with customers drawn to the combination of artistic flair and traditional craftsmanship that defines each piece. Murtons Timbercraft His pieces combine multiple wood types in harmonious designs, creating functional art that serves as both furniture and conversation piece. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT When Peter Murton places a handcrafted coffee table in his workshop display room, it is not uncommon for it to sell virtually instantly. The Richmond-based artisan’s bespoke furniture has become so sought-after that it now represents half of his thriving Murton’s Timbercraft business. Now it’s more about doing what I want to do than what I have to do, and it’s the arty products I love making,” Peter explains. Each piece is entirely unique, crafted from solid timber with no inlays, ensuring patterns flow right through the wood. What he creates is “heirloom-type furniture” that demands considerable time and skill. A single coffee table requires 30 hours of work, reflecting the extraordinary attention to detail that defines his pieces. “Everything I do is a one-off item,” says Peter, who has developed his own distinctive style and technique over decades of craftsmanship. Operating from his workshop at 249 Appleby Highway, Peter sources all timber locally. A recent expedition to Marlborough Sounds yielded rimu, matai, and totara from a historic property. All timber used is either recycled or New Zealand grown, reflecting his commitment to sustainable practices and local materials. The furniture work showcases Peter’s artistic vision. His pieces combine multiple wood types in harmonious designs, creating functional art that serves as both furniture and conversation piece. The solid timber construction ensures durability, while the unique patterns and grain combinations make each item genuinely oneof-a-kind. His furniture spans from $100 chopping boards to elaborate dining tables worth thousands. His catalogue includes food platters, display cases, bookcases, coffee tables, dining tables and custom outdoor furniture, all bearing his distinctive solid timber construction. The business has evolved considerably since Peter and wife Angela established Murton’s Timbercraft on a one-hectare property in 1994. A 1997 accident that fractured Peter’s spine forced them to diversify, leading to a successful seven-year venture running a motor camp, before relocating to Nelson’s Redwoods Valley in 2008. One letterbox drop was all the promotion they ever did. From that time, Peter always had work ahead of him, doing alterations and repairs. Word of mouth drives most sales, supplemented by market shows, where his unique pieces attract serious collectors. The demand has exceeded all expectations, with customers drawn to the combination of artistic flair and traditional craftsmanship that defines each piece. Recent diversification has seen Peter expand into custom bus and caravan fit-outs, sparked by the couple’s own touring experiences. “Now I have work coming out my ears doing custom joinery for buses and caravans,” says Peter. Peter continues his boat restoration work, wall art featuring cross-sections of boats, and custom joinery projects. The workshop itself tells the story of a master craftsman. Doubling as both display room and museum, the workshop houses vintage boat parts, early books and magazines, and vintage marine engines from 1907-1940s, alongside furniture creations, reflecting Peter’s diverse skills as a qualified carpenter, joiner and boat builder. One collectible vessel he owns and is particularly proud of is Blue Duck. A 16-footer, she was built in 1895 and was a tender for gold dredges on the Shotover River. Peter is currently restoring a 1961 Chris Craft mahogany gentleman’s launch and a 1930s’ clinker work boat. Specialising in all grades of Formply Marine Ply Caravan Ply High Pressure Laminates (HPL) Treated H3.2 Plywood Utility Plywood Ph: 03 539 6320 | 45 Parkers Road Tahunanui, Nelson 7011 www.formply.co.nz
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