Lionel Larkin sculpts furniture that is functional, funky, and often portrays his wicked sense of humour. A qualified cabinet maker, antique restorer and French-polisher, he previously worked with The Melbourne Theatre Company, Channel 9 and Channel 7, but he now makes furniture full time. This year Lionel won the prestigious People’s Choice Award at Winterfest (Melbourne’s premier woodmaking festival) with his entry Heavy Night on the Pond. It is a glass topped timber table carved in the shape of a hungover frog.
Lionel’s work encompasses a broad range of designs which are both practical items and unique works of art. He makes them from Australian and recycled timbers including jarrah, yellow box, red gum and Victorian ash, and he draws his inspiration from the natural shape of each piece of wood. For example the timber for a turtle table was selected because its rings corresponded perfectly with the rings on a turtle shell, and the knots in the wood were perfectly placed for the tail, head and legs.
Lionel Larkin exhibits regularly and also sells his work privately. He can be contacted by phone on (03) 9578 1590.