So, about 10 days ago, when my friends and I were putting the final plans together for our trip to Israel, one of the mentioned how glorious my dining room table is. (Yes, it is.)
But, it made me recall with fondness one of my old neighbors. Back in the mid 1980s, as our medical device company was expanding, we opened a production facility near the docks of Long Beach. While we were building racks and a production room, we met our neighbor.
Who was outside restoring his Jaguar. With the finest wood and care I had ever seen. John Nyquist explained that his work- and his love (besides his wife and kids) was creating designs from wood. He would travel the world finding the wood (Brazilian Rosewood, Makassar ebony, among others), which he aged and then carved into desks, chairs, cabinets- you name it.
He was also creating a custom made desk for a client. That was commissioned for $ 50,000. Keep in mind that this was in the 1980s. That was a ton of money- but John’s work was always well regarded.
He also taught countless other designers- at Cal State Long Beach, Cerritos Community College, and a myriad of workshops around the world. His work was in constant demand for some 60 years- and even though he has been dead for 4 years, his creations are still being sold.
His workshop was like our production facility. A non-descript warehouse. But, totally functional. He had a collection of tools that mesmerized. Band saws, reciprocal saws, sanders, jigs…What wasn’t in his office? A clock, anywhere. John arrived in the morning (ok, pleasantly late) and worked until it was dark. Unless he was off searching for the perfect wood or teaching a workshop.
One interesting fact about Nyquist’s creations is that there was never a drop of varnish tainting the wood. He wanted the wood elements to be the draw. John stayed true to his parents’ roots- Scandinavia – and became one of the primary expressionists of the California Rollover style, which was a progression from Scandinavian origins.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t speak to John, since he died four years ago from Parkinson’s disease. But, these memories brought a big smile to my face.
What wonderful memories. Something about the Scandinavian design I love!
Me, too!
I can just imagine. I used to work with two people who were woodworkers. One, an executive, had furniture he had made in his office. Beautiful, beautiful work. He’s retired now, and hopefully busy making items he loves.
That would be exquisite, Alana! I was always mesmerized by John’s creations.
Sounds like he was lucky to find his true passion and to be able to make a living using his skills. There are not that many people like this out there, aren’t there.
So will you or your friend get the dining room table?
PS: There is a Gustav Nyquist on the Columbus Blue Jackets’ team, maybe a distant relative?
I have no idea about Gustav. And, my table is MINE! I have been enjoying it for more than two decades.