Oak bench with steel legs

What a beautiful way to give new life to this very old oak beam that was part of a stable! The beam is over 100 years old, and the oak, sourced from a French forest, is probably twice that age. I have had it for about ten years; I had it sandblasted at the time thinking I would use it to create a partition in my living space, but then the project evolved, and this beam (along with three other similar ones) patiently waited for its moment. I had already thought of turning it into a bench, but it was the encounter with two young craftsmen that brought the project to fruition. This beam has been beautifully highlighted by the two legs made of black lacquered steel, with triangular folded plates (the base flared for maximum stability, as there was no way I could risk it falling on someone’s feet; the whole thing weighs around 50 kilos!). The contrast between the modern legs (design and material) and this old, thick, almost raw oak beam enhances the whole piece. The small metal piece is original; it was used to close the stall, and I decided it would be part of the new life of this beam, just moved for technical reasons. Of course, it’s not a very comfortable bench; my idea was for it to be a supplementary bench, one to enhance an entrance, for example, and practical for tying shoes. The beam has been lightly sanded to avoid the risk of splinters while keeping its roughness and raw aspect, then protected with linseed oil; its colour may lighten over time. This bench measures 134 cm in length and 45 cm in height, with a beam section of 14.5 cm X 14.5 cm. The width of the base is 25 cm, and the steel plates are 7 cm X 0.6 cm in section.