Dan Dunbar is a self-taught woodworker with a background in studio art. He combines a knowledge of Mission furniture, Shaker traditions and Japanese craft philosophies into his designs. The artist believes that “if one can see how something holds itself together, how the separate pieces cooperate, it serves as a comfort to the eye.” Therefore, he views the joinery in his furniture as ornamentation.

The artist prefers to do most of his work by hand and makes many of his own tools. His heirloom-quality pieces include lidded boxes, perfectly sized for the safekeeping of photographs, and a unique line of portable writer’s cases that offer storage for pen and paper as well as a writing surface. Full-length adjustable mirrors, elegant standing chests, and clean-lined tables are part of his furniture collection.

Dan’s studio is situated on an 80-acre homestead in Northern Wisconsin where he and his family enjoy the beauty of the pine, poplar, birch, maple, ash and cedar at their forested locale.