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Thread: The golden rule

  1. #1
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    Question The golden rule

    Does anyone follow the “Golden Proportion” rule when designing furniture items / turned pieces (1:0.618)?

    I heard about it years ago but I’ve never given it mush thought. I recently came across a bloke who swears by it when the yet to be made cabinet/table/etc has dimensions that will allow for it in any part of it’s design (LxWxH).

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  3. #2
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    I have heard of it, all thoughn I tend to use around the 75% aspect ration of the length. And I guess for some items of furniture ie chests of drawers it is advisable not to exceed 450mm in depth for the carcass.

    I have also seen some proportions in relation to furniture( military derived i think), but this was done some years ago and I think that man/woman have changed also in proportions!

    Hope this helps

    Cheers

    Tony




  4. #3
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    Eastie,
    search the archives. There was a reference to this about a year ago. It included a web address.

    Peter

  5. #4
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    Gooday,

    Eastie is right but here are the links, I think

    http://www.nexusjournal.com/Salingar...l#anchor318615
    http://www.tcm.rmit.edu.au/notes/GoldenMean/golden1.htm

    ------------------
    Ian () Robertson
    "We do good turns every day"

  6. #5
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    The Golden Mean generally is a pleasing proportion, but it isn't set in stone. There have been many beautiful pieces made with extreme proportions. I suggest you make a 1/2 scale model out of scrap, just to get an idea of how it will look. It doesn't have to have working drawers or anything - just draw them on. This will help you decide on the proportions and general design.
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  7. #6
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    The Golden Rule is: He who has the gold makes the rules.
    As to the topic, I was always given the ratio 5:8 as the perfect proportion for furniture. That is probably much the same as the one quoted above with the 8 reduced to 1.
    Make sense? 8:5 = 8/8:5/8 = 1:0.625.
    Cheers.

    It only takes one drink to get me loaded. Trouble is, I can't remember if it's the thirteenth or fourteenth.

  8. #7
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    Tim's Golden Rule.

    It's either right or it ain't.

    If it's right, sell it.

    If it ain't, burn it.

    Simple ain't it.

    Cheers.

    ------------------
    Some days I turns thisaway, somedays I turns thataway and other days I don't give a stuff so I don't turn at all.
    Some days I turns thisaway, somedays I turns thataway and other days I don't give a stuff so I don't turn at all.

  9. #8
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    You hit the nail right on the head Tim.

    I have seen pieces of furniture made to the golden mean and they have been absolute rubbish. Others made because it felt good, were good.

    The golden mean is a design rule for harmonious proportions and is found in nature as well as in geometry. However, there are a lot of rules you can chuck away, especially in this day and age when almost anything goes.

    A good rule is. Would I like to have it on display in my house and would my partner (wife/husband) also like it there.

    A better rule is. Would someone with style and taste pay big money to have it in their house.

    RULES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN! If not we'd all be sitting at 8'x5' dining tables on chairs with a seat 4' high and 2'6" wide or something like that.

    If it feels good do it.

    Neil


    [This message has been edited by ubeaut (edited 03 November 2002).]
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  10. #9
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    A seat 4' high. Right. My 5' wife would need a parachute before she would sit down to dinner on that.

    It only takes one drink to get me loaded. Trouble is, I can't remember if it's the thirteenth or fourteenth.

  11. #10
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    A few thoughts on good design.

    Most design falls into 2 categorys.
    1:Functional as in furniture.
    2:None functional as in sculpture.

    For a functional piece the unbreakable rule is "form follows function".
    For example a perfectly designed chair is of little use if the seat isn't wide enough for your bum or your knees won't go under the table.
    So remember "The form must always follow the function"

    For a non fucnctional piece its all about the visual and tactile strengths. Is it good to look at, do people want to touch it?

    I belive that good design is about a number of things but mostly about proportions, that is how does one part relate to another. For example: the width of the rail in relation to the leg: the width and shape of the rim in relation to the diameter of the bowl.

    In the finished result all these elements must fit together right and look balanced. In other words, be in proportion to each other.

    This leads to the question "Can you learn good design"?

    I think the answer to this is mostly no. Its somthing you have or don't have. Sure you can refine your skills but if you must have IT (what ever IT is) to start with in the first place.

    Example 1: I once meet a chap who was very high up in design. He ran design departments, lectured in design, knew all the theory about the Golden Mean ect ect.
    However take a look at his work and while it might have meet all the design rules it didn't look balanced. He just didn't have IT.

    Example 2: When my 18 year old son looks at my work and tells me that platter would look better if this element or that element was different. I mean, I was turning before he was even a romantic notion. The thing is, he is right, and now I don't argue with him and if possiable I just change it. He does have IT. More than I do anyway.

    Example 3: Les Miller associate editor of The Australian Woodworker. If you ever get the chance to walk an exhibition with Les just do it. Its a great experience. He also has IT.

    We all know people of great technical ability
    but their work is pretty average. These people don't have IT.

    Sorry to have raved on a bit but my previous post needed to be expanded on.

    Cheers



    ------------------
    Some days I turns thisaway, somedays I turns thataway and other days I don't give a stuff so I don't turn at all.
    Some days I turns thisaway, somedays I turns thataway and other days I don't give a stuff so I don't turn at all.

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