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"In 1984, while attending a conference in Chicago, I came across George Nakashima's book The Soul of a Tree, displayed in a bookstore window. Thus began my desire to dedicate myself to making and designing simple, beautiful and well-made furniture.
The SOFIA Line is the result of that journey begun in Chicago. Named for my daughter, Sofia Marta, the furniture incorporates the two major influences that most inform my woodworking. The first is the aesthetic and temple carpentry of the Japanese masters that I was introduced to in Mr. Nakashima's book.
Their work celebrates simple forms, detailed and exposed joinery and a quiet elegance. |
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The second is the furniture of the Shaker communities of the19th century. Their furniture is rooted in the New World, unpretentious, exquisitely proportioned and built with native woods.
The SOFIA Line attempts to marry these two styles in a contemporary interpretation that will endure for generations and feel at home in any setting. Thanks to the encouragement and requests of clients, the SOFIA Line has grown to encompass furniture for the home and office, seating, casework, beds and tables.”
 The furniture in the SOFIA Line is constructed of premium grade Pennsylvania cherry and walnut or curly maple. Where appropriate, chairs and table bases for example, I employ mortise and tenon joinery. Table tops can be ordered with book matched plank tops or even with single board slab tops. Most pieces can be customized for height, width or depth to meet your particular needs.
In 2004 I finally inaugurated “the Daniel line” named after my son Daniel Amadis who was 5 years old at the time. The “Daniel line” incorporates two primary focuses. In the area of case work it is a line that is less influenced by “Asian lines”. It also encompasses second generation designs of the Sofia Line. If all this seems a bit attenuated, it’s really my attempt to placate all those people who told me, “now that you have a second child, you HAVE TO name something after him, otherwise he’s going to be scarred for life!” Well, I’ve always thought myself lucky to have designed one line of furniture. The thought of two has always seemed presumptuous to me. But there is a Daniel Line and it does have its own pieces and like the real Daniel a life of its own!
All of the furniture is designed and built in my 2,000 sq. ft. shop in the historic district of Chestertown, on Maryland’s eastern shore. Located 90 minutes from Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Chestertown is a lovely colonial era town with 19th Century homes, antique shops, a cozy café, bed and breakfasts and several fine restaurants. The Ortiz Studios shop and show room is open Monday thru Friday and a half day on most Saturdays where visitors are welcome. |
