Christian Rendtorff is a Perth-based maker who specialises in upcycling Western Australian timber.

Christian has always held a connection to woodwork and transforming raw materials. Born and raised in Germany, one of Christian’s jobs after high school was making historical models for the Heidelberg Museum. In this role, Christian gained an appreciation for different materials and how he could shape them into artefacts. Wanting to develop his skills further, Christian completed an apprenticeship in cabinetmaking, specialising in solid furniture, furniture restoration, and natural finishing materials. In 1988, Christian moved to Western Australia where he began his practice in working with native timbers.  

Christian works out of what he calls a “rather uninspiring” tin shed, gathering his inspiration instead from the piece of timber in front of him. He studies the piece, which can range from Sheoak, to Wild Pear or Jarrah, and decides what he can make from it and how he can utilise the most of the material. The timbers Christian uses come mostly from salvaged logs, whether it be from housing developments, the Alcoa mine site, council works, or local farms. As native tree logging for commercial use is banned by the Western Australian Government, the timber Christian uses for his Jarrah boxes is classified as “firewood,” destined for the woodchipper if not rescued and repurposed.  

“It’s basically me or the woodchipper… My aim is to use salvaged or recycled timber to avoid any tree being felled for me.” 

Each timber box takes around six days to finish due to the laborious oiling process. Christian typically machines the timber in the morning then moves on to glueing, working on three to six boxes at once. Each box then receives five coats of oil, allowing a day to dry in between each coat, producing a simple, clean, and natural shine.  

From his days in cabinetmaking to now, Christian has been inspired by Danish design, admiring simple lines and minimal hardware. This inspiration has translated into the sleek design of his boxes, allowing the colour and grain of the timber speak for itself. Despite this inspiration, Christian often lets the shape of the timber – the knots and curved edges – dictate the design of a piece.  

“Often the unique shape of a piece of wood dictates the form. It shouldn’t be messed with!” 

When asked about the intention of Christian’s timber boxes, he explained that they’re essentially “purpose-free.” 

“I simply want to showcase the beauty of the timber and the boxes are just a vessel for that.” 

Christian hopes that when viewing his creations people can appreciate the beauty of the repurposed piece of timber and that each piece may put a smile someone’s face. 

All images supplied by artist