PROFILE MARY RATCLIFFE STUDIO
“MY PIECES LOOK BACK AT THE HISTORY OF FURNITURE-MAKING, AND THEN DISTIL IT DOWN INTO A SIMPLE, CONTEMPORARY FORM” — Mary Ratcliffe
WHO: Furniture designer and maker Mary Ratcliffe, Mary Ratcliffe Studio, M.R.S. WHERE: Toronto CONNECT: maryratcliffe.studio, @maryratcliffestudio THE SCOOP: After a childhood spent crafting in her father’s home workshop, Mary Ratcliffe launched her own studio in 2013, where she designs contemporary furniture rooted in historical influences and techniques. She’s recently built sculptural bases for a new dining table employing a method traditionally used to make whiskey barrels and, after visiting the former home of Leonardo da Vinci during Milan Design Week in 2019, she was inspired to create subtle curves in her new Lyndoe seating collection. “I loved wandering around Milan to see how traditional architecture blended with more contemporary design,” says Mary. “It got my wheels turning.” SILVER LINING: When the pandemic forced Mary to temporarily stop using her shared workshop space, she started making beautiful stone catchalls in her husband’s empty office. “I needed a creative outlet, so I thought, Why not make 15 and just see how it goes?” They sold out in seven minutes and are now an ongoing part of her collection. ECO CRED: Whenever possible, Mary uses Canadian-sourced materials such as white oak and white ash. “From an environmental perspective, we have a lot of great hardwoods in North America, so why chop down a tree somewhere in the rainforest?”