Gerard Horsman is a Tasmanian designer and producer of exclusive furniture and photography. He has been using and integrating Tasmanian timbers in his uniquely crafted pieces, giving them identity and presence in both residential and commercial settings.
Gerard resides on the sunny Northwest coast of Tasmania with his wife and two children. Living on the Northwest coast allows him to immerse himself in the beauty of Tasmania’s pristine wilderness, where he can completely appreciate the full extent of mother nature’s form and beauty. Gerard is an avid bush walker and photographer, having conquered most of Tasmania’s difficult and stunning terrain. Surfing and mountain bike riding also form some of his favourite pastimes; anything where he is out in the elements. His passion has been passed on to his children who love following him on adventures, rain or shine, collecting shells or leaves and taking in the intricacies of our natural environment.
Gerard has been lucky enough to travel extensively overseas which has provided him with the inspiration and ‘outside the box’ creativeness for the unique pieces of timber he sources. This creativeness, when paired with his unique skill set and plenty of patience, allows him to successfully turn even the most difficult pieces of timer into something exquisite. His use of contrasting materials in some of his pieces has set him above the rest, by turning furniture making into an art form and given him his worldwide success.
All the timber Gerard uses in his furniture is salvaged and locally sourced from recognised millers here in Tasmania. The scarcity of the timber and unique nature of what he makes, means that each piece he creates is ‘one of a kind’ and cannot be replicated.
This table was commissioned for a client in Sydney Australia.
The table is a stand alone statement made exclusively from Tasmanian Timbers. The table top is a single piece of Huon Pine stretching 4.5 metres long. Pieces of timber of this size and nature have been dated back to the Dark Ages. The legs have been constructed also with book matched Huon Pine. Tasmanian oak has been used for the underneath stretcher rail. Steel and brass fittings were produces to tie the table together. The ‘inherit’ nature of this piece represents the age and grace of such a magnificent tree.
Table Measurements 4.3 metres long x 90cm wide
Many ships and boats became wrecked at Flinders Island Tasmania during the early trading and exploration days. These seaborn vessels were used for fishing, hunting seals and trade. This keel was used on such a vessel before becoming wrecked and left on the island. Later the keel was salvaged and sent to the slipways in Devonport Tasmania, with a dream of being restored and used upon the waterways once again. The slipways were later closed, and this keel, made from solid celery top pine, was sold at auction.
Over 100 years later, the keel now takes on a new form as the base of this hand-crafted table made in Tasmania. Huon Pine and stainless steel has been used to form the hull shaped legs, whilst more Celery Top Pine has been used to form the tables surface. These Celery boards have been carefully book matched in grain and solid bronze has been inlaid to embellish the table and help reflect our maritime history.
Table Measurements - 3.2 metres long x 1.1 metres wide.
This piece is a collective piece of Tasmanian heritage and natural beauty.
The Providence - The cast iron Press was forged by A & J Clarke in Liverpool street, Hobart Town in the early 1800’s. Hobart Town was renamed the city of Hobart during the mid-1800’s with its growing population. The same metal works who made this press was involved in much of Tasmania’s early industrial development including the construction of the Port Arthur Penal settlement.
As the face of industry changed over the century many factories alongside Port Arthur closed its doors. Much of the Tasmania’s early infrastructure was either demolished, cast aside or lost in time for the next 150 years. The press was later discovered and collected by a local Antiques dealer in Richmond Tasmania. It sat there for a few more years waiting for its next journey.
The Tasmanian Oak legs used to support the press were source from a local timber merchant in Hobart. The timber served its time in Hobart forming part of the ‘Princess Wharf’ until a time where concrete took precedent over timber. The beams were carted away and laid to rest until they were later discovered by a local timber merchant and made available for their next use. The beams were cut to size and have been embellished with brass fittings forming the legs for this table.
The tabletop is made from a book matched pair of Tasmanian Huon Pine. This timber is only inherit to Tasmania and is globally recognised as a rare and diminishing resource. These boards are estimated to have come from a tree over 1500 years old.
Table Measurements - 3.1 metres long x 1.2 metres wide.