A Danish-born woodworker and designer, Tage Frid was known for his three-legged stool. He was also a teacher and an author. His work influenced the studio furniture movement in the United States.
Career
If you are interested in woodworking you have probably heard of Tage Frid. This Danish-born craftsman is responsible for some of the most iconic American-made furniture of the last several decades. From his days as a master craftsman with the Royal Danish Cabinetmakers to his stint as an educator at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Frid was at the forefront of the resurgence of American-made furniture.
For one thing, he was responsible for the first higher-education program in fine woodworking in the United States. He also penned the first major design article in a national magazine. His most influential creation was the three-legged stool, which remains in use today.
Of course, the most interesting aspect of the three-legged stool is that it was the product of a Danish woodworker who came to America in the early 1940s. During this period, Frid took an apprenticeship under Gronlund Jensen, who was a master craftsman at the time. Later in his career, he would design and build a number of notable pieces, including the first American version of a “Jigsaw” chair. Among his other accomplishments, Frid was awarded a lifetime achievement award from the Furniture Society.
Furniture in living room and dining room
Tage Frid is an influential Danish-born furniture maker. He was a teacher, author, and contributing editor of Fine Woodworking magazine. His work was featured in several books, and he wrote a three-volume series called Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking. He also created a number of pieces for display in museums.
In 1962, he was named head of the woodworking program at the Rhode Island School of Design. He became an influential teacher, and his influence on generations of American craftsmen grew over the next quarter century. He has left his mark on modern furniture.
Tage Frid is now living comfortably on his pension. He is a woodworking expert who designs and makes furniture that is a mix of traditional and contemporary styles. One of his most famous pieces is a jointless rocking chair that is made of bolted aluminum and walnut. This chair has a nylon parachute cord and is remarkably comfortable.
Another of his most well-known pieces is a triangular-shaped pedestal sideboard that echoes the triangle of the case. A version of this piece is included in the permanent collection at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
Books devoted to joinery
If you’re in the market for a woodworking book that combines both technical and aesthetic aspects, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better choice than a Frid woodworking book. The author is a renowned expert in the field, and he’s spent his life experimenting and documenting various techniques. His most famous book, the Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking series, has helped countless amateur woodworkers master their craft. Despite being published thirty years ago, it’s still an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to take their hobby to the next level.
The main reason that the book stands out from the crowd is its comprehensive coverage. There are numerous sections devoted to various joinery and finishing techniques. This includes veneering, splined and mitered joints, and even a brief section on inlaying. The author also covers some of the more modern machinery used in today’s woodworking world, like power routers, saws, and thickness planers.
Some of the more impressive feats of construction covered in the book include a swanky standup desk, a grandmother clock, and a wide variety of tables and chairs. In addition to the basics, Frid provides complete plans for these pieces of furniture.
Three-legged stool
Tage Frid was a woodworker and woodworking teacher who was renowned for his innovative designs and methods. He made furniture that would be admired by generations of craftsmen. His most important work was his three-volume book, Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking, which has become a classic.
Originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, Frid moved to the United States with a friend, Jack Prip, in 1948. The two men were recruited to teach at a school for American craftsmen in Alfred, New York. They were also affiliated with the Rhode Island School of Design. In 1962, he became the head of the woodworking department at RISD. It wasn’t long before he began reaching out to the students outside the classroom. Several of his pieces were featured in magazines, including Fine Woodworking.
He published his three-volume woodworking textbook in 1979, and it remains the most widely recognized and respected woodworking manual. Since then, it has been continuously published. Among his many accomplishments, he was a force in the founding of Fine Woodworking magazine. Today, he lives comfortably on his pension from the Rhode Island School of Design.
