Thos. Moser Blog

OUR BLOG HAS MOVED!

2009-08-17T11:35:00.005-04:00

PLEASE NOTE THAT
OUR BLOG HAS MOVED TO:

blog.thosmoser.com

Please update your favorites list and/or bookmarks to relect this new location.

All of the content in this blog, along with all NEW content and blog posts can be found at our new blogging home which is blog.thosmoser.com.

Thank you for following us, and we hope you continue to enjoy our blog at its new location!

David Moser commissioned to create award statues for The Jackson Laboratory's National Council Awards

2009-08-14T13:44:00.009-04:00

David Moser has been commissioned to design and create the awards that will be given to the recipients of The Jackson Laboratory’s National Council Awards. Recipients will be chosen in categories including Distinguished Service, Philanthropy and Scientific Achievement. This is the second time that David Moser has been honored with the challenge of creating an award for The Jackson Laboratory. In 2008 Moser created the award given to the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Awards.

The ceremony and reception for the National Council Awards will take place at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine on August 14, when recipients will be announced.

The design of this award utilizes two American hardwoods, Northern white ash and American black walnut, as well as sculpted elements in solid bronze cast at a local foundry.

"The Jackson Laboratory’s mission is to enable research for the global community and advance the human condition," states David Moser. "I intended to represent the spirit of their mission and illustrate the unity of man on an abstract global sphere. Additionally, the National Council’s mission to ‘Engage - Empower and Educate’ is represented on a concentric ring. Using sculpture I aimed to represent these pursuits, echoing the ambitions of The Jackson Laboratory, the Council and the humanitarian achievements of the recipients."

The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution and National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center based in Bar Harbor, Maine, with a facility in Sacramento, California. Its mission is to discover the genetic basis for preventing, treating, and curing human diseases, and to enable research and education for the global biomedical community. In addition to being a research facility, it is an international hub for scientific courses, conferences, training, and education.

For more info and photos, please visit thosmoser.com.

Tom Moser giving keynote address in Chicago this weekend

2009-08-12T17:28:00.008-04:00

This conference is where the country’s top craftsmen, designers and experts come together to share their woodworking techniques and teach you the fundamentals of sound furniture construction and design.

At the banquet on Saturday evening, Tom Moser will be presenting the keynote about the art and technique of his exceptional creations.

You don't need to attend the entire conference...banquet admission with keynote is $35 and that price includes attendance to the Saturday Banquet with keynote speech...may be purchased for you and a spouse, friend or other guest.

For more details about the conference, including specific schedule and registration info, please visit their website: http://furnituredc.woodworkinginamerica.com/

2009-08-06T14:10:00.008-04:00

Our First Ever Inventory Reduction Sale
Now through Tuesday, August 11
The Meridian Collection is coming and we need to make room! So starting today and running through Tuesday, August 11, we are offering three ways to save when you purchase any of our original, handcrafted designs from available inventory:

Showroom Floor Samples – in order to make room for our newest designs, we’ve marked down select showroom floor samples anywhere from 10% to 20% and made them available for immediate “cash-and-carry” purchase from our showroom floors (major credit cards also accepted).

Inventory Samples, etc. – Available from 10% up to 20% off standard retail prices, this category includes former showroom samples, prototypes, refurbished pieces, and customer returns. Quantities are limited and sales of these pieces are on a first-come, first-served basis and can be purchased through our showrooms or by clicking here.

In-Stock Pieces – this category includes some of our most popular pieces that have been pre-built for immediate delivery. These pieces can be ordered at our showrooms for 10% off through Tuesday, August 11. Also available online by clicking here and entering the code STOCK at checkout.

Our showrooms locations (click for details and contact info):

Freeport, ME | Boston, MA | New York, NY | Washington, DC
Chicago, IL | San Francisco, CA | Los Angeles, CA
If you aren't near a showroom, the team at our Customer Care Center here in Maine stands ready to assist you with all facets of the order and delivery process. They can be reached by calling 1-800-708-9045 or by emailing salesinfo@thosmoser.com and are available Mon.-Fri. 9am-9pm, Saturdays 10am-6pm and Sundays 11am-5pm (Eastern time).

PLEASE NOTE: Discounted inventory pricing cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotional offers.

Introducing Meridian, a new collection by David Moser

2009-08-04T13:47:00.004-04:00

We are pleased to announce the introduction of Meridian, the newest collection by David Moser. Meridian will be arriving in our showrooms in early September, 2009 and is available NOW to pre-order.

CLICK HERE for the online preview, or cut and paste this url into your address bar:
http://www.thosmoser.com/product.list.php?family_id=36

You won't find that link on our website; this special preview is available only to our online subscribers!

ORDER TODAY AND DAVID MOSER WILL PERSONALLY SIGN EACH PIECE: Every piece of authentic Thos. Moser furniture is signed and dated by the craftsman who built it. David Moser will be adding his signature to the craftsman's on each Meridian piece in the first 25 Meridian orders.

Meridian draws inspiration from diverse sources, principally Danish and Shaker influences, while adding David Moser’s distinctive creative touch. While also available in cherry, this is our first collection to be introduced in ash as the preferred species, which allows the grain and texture of the wood to come to the fore and adds a clean, modernist feel.

CLICK HERE to visit our website where you can place an order and learn more about this collection. You may also pre-order Meridian through any of Thos. Moser showroom or by calling (800) 862-1973.

Meridian is coming (stay tuned for details)

2009-07-29T23:14:00.007-04:00

We are just about ready to unveil the new Meridian Collection! In the meantime, we are just so excitied about this colleciton that we can resist posting a couple of "sneak peak" photos. Designed by David Moser, Meridian draws inspiration from diverse sources, principally Danish and Shaker influences, while adding David's distinctive creative touch.

Shown above are glimpes of the new Meridian Dining Chair, and Meridian Dining Sideboard.

Stay tuned for more details about Meridian coming soon!

Pasadena Rocker - Forbes Life Find of the Day

2009-07-21T12:42:00.009-04:00

Check out David Moser's new Pasadena Rocker on Forbes.com!

Here is an exerpt...

Anyone lucky enough to own a home with a grand wraparound porch surely keeps a rocking chair around to laze about on when it's too hot to sit directly under the summer sun. The work of furniture designer David Moser, this sculptural piece is a modern tribute to something you'd fine in your grandparents' living room.

To visit the article on Forbes.com, use this link:
http://blogs.forbes.com/findoftheday/2009/07/thos-moser-pasadena-rocker-this-3200-cherry-wood-rocking-chair-adds-a-bit-of-sophistication-to-your-.html

For more on the Pasadena Rocker, click on this photo:

When in Freeport, be sure to visit the Harraseeket Inn

2009-07-18T09:57:00.014-04:00

We thought you might enjoy this nice review of one of our favorite places, the Harraseeket Inn (and the Moser room) from Maine Travel Maven, Hilary Nangle:

CLICK HERE

or copy/paste the full url:

http://hilarynangle.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/sleeping-and-dining-at-the-harraseeket-inn/

The Harraseeket Inn, located on Main Street in Freeport across from our showroom, offers a classic Maine experience with local charm and world-class service. We highly reccomend it for an overnight, or for a dining experience that features produce, meats and fish from local farms and fisherman.

2009-07-14T14:30:00.004-04:00

Inside Scoop

Our cabinetmakers are passionate about their craft, which shows in the work they do. What is most surprising to learn about this group is their passions and backgrounds outside of their work at Moser. We have a former lawyer, a retired Coast Guard and a professional bass fisherwoman, to name a few. Most of our cabinetmakers would rather have the lime-light on the furniture they create than on themselves, but it is worth noting some of the unique passions that bring together such a diverse and outstanding group.

Donna Farrar, one of our long time cabinetmakers, came up with this great poem below on the spot, so we had to share. We will continue to bring you more cabinetmaker profiles and stories of our team behind the scenes. Enjoy!

All of our hearts at Thos Moser are in the heart of the wood.

Each flame grain picked,
each measurement we take,
it's all important,
to the furniture we make.

Each customer we talk to,
we really do care,
it comes from the heart,
and that can be rare.

The personality, the craft, the skill,
it's all put in, to what is built.

If you buy a piece to call your own,
you will be proud, it's in your home.

-Donna Farrar, Cabinetmaker

2009-07-08T09:36:00.026-04:00

Meet the Cabinetmaker

One of the most common questions from our customers is: wanting to know created the Moser furniture in their home? Our June Mailer featured a profile on cabinetmaker Ron Gilbert, who works here in the shop and participated in our Customer in Residence program as a mentor.

Our hope is to continue profiling cabinetmakers to give customers a look behind the scenes at the skilled craftsmen and women crafting their family heirlooms. Be sure to check under your Moser furniture as you may just have a piece signed by one of the featured cabinetmakers...enjoy!

(l to r: Ron Gilbert, shown with Customer in Residence partner Peter Graf)

Name: Ron Gilbert

Area of specialty: Cases

Years with Thos. Moser: 7

Where did you grow up: Bethel, Maine

What is the most interesting trip you have taken: I took a trip to Denmark to learn how to compress wood to make bendings for furniture.

Favorite piece of Moser furniture: Dr. White's Chest

Have you made any Moser pieces as a gift: Yes, I made a New Gloucester Rocker as a wedding gift for my son and his wife.

What do you like most about your job: Being able to take pride in the craftsmanship.

What do you like least about your job: dust from sanding.

Hobbies/Interests: Music, fishing and motorcycles.

Do you have a special fishing hole: By map, I once found a beaver pond in an unorganized territory in Mason, Maine.

What is the most unusual thing you ever owned: I owned a rock & roll nightclub for three years.

Piece of the Day - an American classic

2009-07-02T08:06:00.000-04:00

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
- Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1863

In honor of July 4th our Piece of the Day for the holiday weekend is a true American classic, the Thos. Moser Continuous Arm Chair. This piece is a testament to the premise that as often as things change, much remains the same: good design never grows old or useless (just think of the paper clip). Well-made objects crafted with a clarity of purpose are never out of date.

As our "signature" piece, the Thos. Moser Continuous Arm Chair remains a unique, trademarked Moser design. This modern interpretation of the Windsor chair demands a full mastery of craftsmanship skills.

To form the arms, eleven 1/10" knife-cut slices of the same tree, called a flitch, are laminated together. Then each continuous arm is meticulously rasped, filed and sanded to a perfect smoothness.

This painstaking process yields a curved element far stronger than steam-bending can produce. Strong, flexible northern ash spindles and legs are attached to the arm and the sculpted cherry seat, with wedged tenons for exceptional strength. Discreet knee braces eliminate the need for stretchers to support the legs.

Tom Moser has often said that only in America could his life’s journey have touched (and been touched by) so many people and places. So during this week of July 4th let’s all take stock in our independence and remember those who have sacrificed in freedom’s name.

Kinesis Chair featured at Furniture Fashion blog

2009-06-29T07:56:00.006-04:00

The Kinesis Chair & Ottoman have been featured at Furniture Fashion, also known as Furniture Store Blog. Furniture Fashion provides ideas, pictures, and articles on interior design, home décor, furniture, and decorating. We can identify with their mission of providing people information about furnishings to beautify and personalize their environment while increasing quality of life through great design, and we certainly appreciate the support.

If you are a fan of good design, we recommend making Furniture Fashion one of your regular online stops. Here are links to the features they have done on our designs:

Kinesis Chair & Ottoman:
http://www.furniturestoreblog.com/2009/06/28/kenesis_chair_and_ottoman_by_thos_moser.html

Pasadena Dining Chair:
http://www.furniturestoreblog.com/2008/08/30/the_pasadena_traditional_dining_chair_from_thomas_moser.html

Edo Rocking Chair and Chaise:
http://www.furniturestoreblog.com/2008/05/25/here_are_two_more_really.html

Vita Dining Table and Chairs:
http://www.furniturestoreblog.com/2008/05/25/when_it_comes_to_outstanding.html

Freeport Artist Reception a Success!

2009-06-26T09:19:00.002-04:00

The reception for artist Judy Taylor last night was very well-received and we had a great turnout of customers and friends. We unveiled our new Pasadena Rocker and also gave attendees a sneak peak of our Meridian collection, coming out this fall. Also on display were works from local artists Eric Hopkins, Tom Curry, Jill Hoy, Liz Armstrong and Michelle Hero Clarke. Our Freeport showroom continues to partner with artists whose works compliment our furniture and creates a gallery-type space in our showroom. We are pleased to partner with Maine artists and invite you to the showroom to view the works currently on display.

2009-06-26T08:55:00.018-04:00

Savings to be had at our DC Annex Event

If you haven't had the chance to check out our Special Savings Event Annex in Washington, DC, it's worth the trip. We have brought many pieces to the annex from our Maine shop including customer favorites, floor models and one-of-a-kinds (and are continually bringing in new pieces). The Annex is open through early August, but all inventory is first-come, first-serve. For those unable to make it to DC, we have posted many of the items on our website.

Here is a sampling of some of the items you will find at the Annex...

above: Round Ring Extension Table with Catena Dining Chairs

above: Wing Three Place Sofa, Pasadena Slipper Chair, Lolling Coffee Table and Round Minimus Table (shown with our Desk Clock)

above: an array of occasional tables, case pieces and seating

above: Edo Rocker

The Annex is adjacent to our Georgetown Showroom, which is located at 3300 M Street NW (33rd Street).

Hours are:

Mon-Tues: by appointment
Wed-Sat: 10am-6pm

Sunday: 11am-5pm

Visit our website for more details or contact the DC showroom at 800-708-9061.

2009-06-24T14:21:00.007-04:00

Remembering an Icon: A Tribute to Sam Maloof

Over the years a number of furniture makers have influenced the work we perform here in Maine. Two living makers had a huge impact on, not only my aesthetic expressions, but also on our business sense. Now both George Nakashima and Sam Maloof are gone and we function only with their memories.

I met Sam twenty-five years ago at his Los Angeles home where he and Freda spent the day sharing the world of woodworking as he knew it. His insistence on hand crafting, on “reading” the wood for color and grain, on the avoidance of metal fasteners and modern shortcuts all resonated with me and much of his attitude has insinuated itself into my work and that of my son David’s.

Although he shared what I call the California Organic free-flowing form with other builders of the time, such as Art Carpenter and Wendell Castle, Sam was a singular force during his entire lifetime. He knew himself and he knew his work as few of us are inclined to do. He will be remembered and his work will span the ages.

(photo of Sam Maloof and Tom Moser at our Los Angeles showroom opening in March 2008. The duo spoke on their shared love of the craft and design inspirations to over 700 fans during the opening weekend)

(a shot of the packed house as Sam Maloof and Tom Moser took to the stage)

"Sam Maloof, a designer and woodworker whose furniture was initially prized for its simplicity and practicality by Southern Californian homeowners in the 1950s and later valued for its beauty and timelessness by collectors, museum curators and U.S. presidents, has died. He was 93."

-Janet Eastman, excerpt taken from the LA Times

Click to view the complete obituary from the LA Times.

2009-06-19T12:28:00.023-04:00

Thos. Moser Graduates the Eighth Customer in Residence Group!

What a week! Our eighth week of hosting customers for the Customer in Residence program has come to a close - we hope to have sent our customers home with great memories and an appreciation for the work that goes into hand-crafting a piece of Moser furniture. They have left our cabinetmakers with some great stories and the opportunity to share the skill. This group hailed from across the country, with one customer driving all the way from California with his wife to take part in the experience. This week, we had Navy Seals, a machine shop owner, an orchard manager, friends, brothers, etc. participate in the program.

The week included time in the shop building the piece of furniture they selected, tours of the shop, our showroom, dinners, time to relax and more. The week was capped off with a signing/graduation ceremony this morning with all of the shop, the customers' spouses and families in attendance. Here are a few pictures from the ceremony...

A Chest fit for a Captain

(above) One participant, Captain Krongard, worked with cabinetmaker, Paul Blank to build a Captain's Chest. We thought this picture had great meaning, signed by Tom Moser (retired from the Air Force), Captain Krongard (US Navy) and Paul Blank (retired from the Coast Guard).

We thank all of the customers for spending their vacation with us doing what we do, day in and day out! Safe travels home...

2009-06-17T08:27:00.009-04:00

The Changing Times

The Distinction between “need” and “want” is determined by the economics of the times. For most of our country's existence, human consumption was need based. There was little surplus for what we today call luxury goods. As a child of the depression, I lived a comfortable life without restaurant dinners, paid entertainment (except for the Sunday comics) or electronic gadgetry.

Perhaps I was self deceived but it never occurred to me that we were deprived. My mother canned home grown vegetables, made sauerkraut and grape jelly. We had a few chickens for eggs and made soap out of lard. She mended our clothes and even made my pajamas from a bleached Purina feed bag. It was itchy but I liked them because she made them.

The world’s largest store, Chicago’s Sears & Roebucks, was twenty miles away and I can recall being there once only, just to see it of course.

All the people we knew were in the same boat and it was not until the 1950’s that consumerism became the means of achieving for the “good life." Although there have been dips in our economic trajectory, our current dip is far and away the most profound in my adult experience.

These times may well lead to a fundamental and permanent shift in our habits of consumption. What has given us meaning in the recent past, big houses, big cars, big price tags, big debt, may give way to a focus on quality and a more personal (make that emotional) connection to the objects that surround our lives. There is a movement away from profligate spending.

What we make and sell surely falls within the definition of a luxury product. What gives our work a chance to survive this move away from consumerism is the permanent nature of its utility and pride of authorship. We build furniture here in Maine and we sell it for more than one life-time of use. Our work will be here long after we have as a nation returned to the values of that simpler time.

Until next time,

2009-06-12T10:16:00.014-04:00

An Evening of Art & Craftsmanship at our Freeport Showroom

Our Freeport showroom is pleased to present an evening open house on Thursday, June 25th with artist Judy Taylor. The event will feature new work from Eric Hopkins, Tom Curry and Jill Hoy and introduce works by local artists Liz Armstrong and Michelle Hero Clarke.

Also on display is our new Pasadena Rocker, from designer David Moser.

The event is from 6pm to 8:30pm on Thursday, June 25th. RSVP to 207.865.4519

Our Freeport showroom is located at 149 Main Street, Freeport, ME (one block north of L.L. Bean)

2009-06-11T14:45:00.026-04:00

A special gift from a Customer in Residence alum

The most exciting part about our Customer in Residence (CIR) program is the bond created between the customer and their cabinetmaker mentor. Many of the customers coming in to the program find joy in putting a face to the cabinetmaker name signed on the bottom of the furniture that graces their homes. For the cabinetmakers, it is a chance to meet the customers and share their craft.

Our most recent group of CIR alumni featured a father/daughter team who spent the week with our resident cabinetmaker-mentor, Jim Boisvert, creating an Aria Desk. The group had a great week and swapped woodworking stories and interests. Jim was excited to learn that the father in this pairing creates wood carvings back home, so we sent him away after the week with a block of cherry. He took that block and whittled it into a beautiful dolphin statue as a gift for Jim, which we recently got a chance to see…

(the carving sent to cabinetmaker Jim Boisvert) (the trio and their Aria desk, just before finishing)

(under the watchful eye of cabinetmaker Jim Boisvert)

New Product! Meet the Pasadena Rocker...

2009-06-09T10:59:00.019-04:00

We are offering a special sneak preview of David Moser's new Pasadena Rocker for our online friends and customers. The rocker will be introduced in our Summer Mailer, which will arrive in homes in the next couple of weeks, and can then be seen in any of our seven showrooms nationwide. The rocker is available in cherry and walnut.

We have received some great publicity on the rocker so far...
Arizona Foothills Magazine
Modern Luxury Blog

Art & Craftsmanship in Los Angeles this weekend

2009-05-28T16:06:00.006-04:00

Please join us at our Los Angeles showroom for an opening reception following the Culver City Art Walk with artists...

GIL MARES, TODD BRAINARD, BONNIE BORN and KATINA ZINNER

RECEPTION WITH THE ARTISTS
Saturday, May 30, 2009
6pm-8pm

RSVP by contacting the Los Angeles showroom

Representing the rebirth created by art found within lush landscapes and beautiful water images, combined with man-made machinery, carrying a new purpose, offering new life, and revealing new "scenery" for both.

For information and directions, please contact the showroom:

Thos. Moser Los Angeles showroom
In the Helms Bakery Building
8705 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
t: 310-204-5726
e: lashowroom@thosmoser.com

Samples of work by the artists (click image to enlarge):

Green Hull 1 by Gil Mares

Granada View by Bonnie Born

Deep Water by Katina Zinner

Last Rig by Todd Brainard

Journey Through the Past 37 Years: Tom Moser gives address at the Portland Museum of Art

2009-05-22T12:26:00.011-04:00

Tom Moser gave an entertaining and welcomed speech at the Portland Museum of Art last night, speaking to over 75 of the Museum's Committee of One-Hundred. Tom spoke of his journey over the past thirty-seven years, starting as a college professor to the leading furniture designer he is today. Tom, wife Mary, and their four sons all had a hand in the business bringing it from a small operation out of their home to the shop now in Auburn, ME with over 70 cabinetmakers and 200 products offered today.

Below are a few pictures from the evening and check back for the video soon!

(Tom beginning the journey to an engaged audience)

(Tom on stage with the Thos. Moser Continuous Arm Chair, Kinesis Chair and Ottoman, New Gloucester Rocker and the new Pasadena Rocker)

(paying compliments to son David's Kinesis Chair)

Graduation Day! Our Customer In Residence Program Celebrates Another Successful Week

2009-05-19T14:07:00.028-04:00

A "signing ceremony" was held on Friday, May 15 to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of our latest Customer In Residence (CIR) partipciants. This program is a weeklong intensive internship for our customers who want to experience the process of building Moser furniture for themselves. Below are short video clips from the signing ceremony where the participants come together with all the employees at our shop to describe their experience...

For more information about the Customer In Residence program, CLICK HERE NOW to visit the CIR page on our website.

Tom Moser to give keynote address at the Woodworking in America Conference, August 14th-16th

2009-05-13T13:28:00.006-04:00

Tom Moser will be the keynote speaker at this year's Woodworking in America Conference, August 14th - 16th in St. Charles, IL. His speech will be on Saturday, August 15th starting at 6pm. There will also be a book signing and Q&A with Tom.

To learn more about the conference, visit the Woodworking in America website or check out the article about Tom on the Popular Woodworking blog.

Visit our website to learn of other special Thos. Moser events.

Join Our Online Community and Register to Win

2009-04-24T09:48:00.026-04:00

Join the growing number of people who stay connected to Thos. Moser as part of our online community and you could win a piece of Thos Moser heirloom furniture, signed by Tom Moser himself!

Benefits of registering include:
• Exclusive online-only offers
• Advance notice of new design introductions
• Invitations to showroom events

Here is what you could win just for signing up...

Grand Prize:
Chaise,
signed by Tom Moser

1st Prize:
New Glouscester Rocker,
signed by Tom Moser

2nd Prize:
Vault Table,
signed by Tom Moser

This chance to win ends soon, so CLICK HERE NOW to sign up.

Deadline for entry is June 30, 2009. Some rules and restrictions apply, click here for details (PDF file).

If you live in Boston or are planning to visit, don't miss these events

2009-04-23T15:47:00.016-04:00

Upcoming Events at our Boston Showroom:

May is a beautiful time to be in Boston...flowers are blooming, rowers and sailors begin to flood the Charles and the streets are bustling. Our Boston showroom will also be busy in May with two upcoming spring events...

Having a hard time getting organized in time for Spring? Join Sarah Buckwalter of Organizing Boston at our showroom on Thursday, May 14th for a special Home + Office event. Sarah will do a demonstration and share tips on how to make the most of your home office. There will be a reception following her talk featuring home office furniture from Thos. Moser. The event is from 5pm to 8pm.

On Sunday, May 17th (from 11am to 3pm) the Boston showroom will be hosting an art benefit and light brunch, with a portion of proceeds from artwork going to The Boston Living Center. Works from Shari Weschler Rubeck and Tim Barner will be on display, thanks to the folks at Canvas Fine Arts Gallery.

below: Example of work by Shari Weschler Rubeck, titled Oh..!, Acrylic/MM on Canvas 40x30

below: Example of work by Tim Barner, titled String of Lights

For additional info, please contact our Boston Showroom at 617.224.1245 or bostonshowroom@thosmoser.com.

Chicago Tribune features the Kinesis Chair and Ottoman!

2009-04-23T08:44:00.000-04:00

Check out our bronze-base Kinesis Chair in a Chicago Tribune article on April 12th celebrating the natural beauty of wood furniture. Shown here in walnut, the Kinesis Chair and Ottoman are also available in cherry. For more info, visit our website.

Thos. Moser on display at Boston's Park Plaza Hotel

2009-04-20T16:15:00.005-04:00

Our friends at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel kindly offered up a display space, within their hotel, for us to showcase Thos. Moser furniture and accessories from our local partners.

If you are in the area, stop by and check out the space! You can see the display from the street or from inside the hotel's main lobby- on the way to Todd English's Bonfire restaurant in the hotel).

Our Boston showroom is just a few blocks from the Park Plaza, at 19 Arlington Street.

Don't Take Our Word For It...

2009-04-10T12:16:00.015-04:00

When it comes to guidebooks, Frommer's is one of the top "go-to" resources, used by people, and websites, to plan trips all over the world. So when they say that Thos. Moser "has become nearly as representative of Maine as L.L.Bean has" then we think that is something worth repeating!

In fact, our own flagship showroom (shown above) is located just a few blocks from L.L. Bean's flagship store in Freeport, which makes it a convenient and picturesque stop if you are visiting New England. Located on Main St. across from this renowned Harraseeket Inn, the showroom is a nineteenth-century home which has been restored to its historic grandeur based upon archival photos and furnished two full floors with our pieces. Be sure to visit the upstairs "Special Opportunity Room" which features showroom floor samples, prototypes and refurbished pieces that are immediately available, often at reduced prices.

While Freeport is our flagship here in our home state of Maine, it is not our ONLY showroom. We are proud to be able to servce customers from coast-to-coast at at a total of seven showroom locations across the country, listed below in geographical order (click city name for details)...

Freeport, ME

Boston, MA

New York, NY

Washington, DC
Chicago, IL

San Francisco, CA

Los Angeles, CA

If you live abroad or are travelling overseas, we also have affiliate showrooms in Dublin, Ireland, and Seoul, South Korea.

Each of our showrooms features a broad selection of our residential and office furniture and a friendly and knowledgeable staff is there to assist with every step of the order process for any of our standard pieces, or can help you design a custom piece to suit your individual needs. And no matter where you call home, and as the folks as Frommer's say, "nationwide delivery is easy to arrange".

Successful Healing Through Music Fundraiser at our LA Showroom

2009-03-15T15:41:00.003-04:00

Hats off to the Children's Music Fund™ (CMF) and our LA showroom for putting on a spectacular fundraising event on Saturday, March 14th! The Healing Through Music™ event raised approximately $20,000 for CMF, whose mission is to provide musical instruments and music therapy to children with chronic and life-altering illnesses. Proceeds from the event, including ticket sales and auction items, will go towards the development of music therapy programs and mobile recording studios for children in the Greater Los Angeles Hospitals.

Some of the fabulous auction items included VIP tickets to one of the last tapings of the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, System Of A Down autographed instrument package, and guitars and keyboards signed by members of Smashing Pumpkins, Counting Crows, Slash, Alien Ant Farm, Jane's Addiction, Velvet Revolver, 311, Sinbad, and Jay Leno, among others!

Thanks to all for a great event...be sure to check out our website for more exciting showroom events!

Art & Craftsmanship in San Francisco

2009-03-15T13:13:00.006-04:00

Original art paired with original furniture highlights the importance of genuine originality in art and design.

As part of our "alternative gallery space" program, which highlights national and local artists in each of our showrooms across the country, we are pleased to present the work of two remarkable Plein Air Colorists, Mary Lou Correia and Robin Purcell, in our San Francisco showroom.

Example of work by Mary Lou Correia, titled Ferry Building, San Francisco, oil 8 x 14 (click to enlarge):

Example of work by Robin Purcell, titled September in Sunol, watercolor 14 x 21 (click to enlarge):

To learn more about these wonderful artists and see additional examples of their work, please visit our website.

Piece of the Day - Bremen Table by Tom Moser

2009-03-03T08:28:00.012-05:00

The mid-1800s was a time of enormous social upheaval in central Europe that preceded several revolutions. On the design front, a streamlined aesthetic was emerging that resonated with a burgeoning middle class and was epitomized by the Federal Style in the United States, by the Regency Style in England, and by Biedermeier in Germany. The name Biedermeier is actually a pseudonym for two individuals, but it has come to represent a rebellion against ostentation and the use of highly taxed luxury wood (like mahogany), along with resurgence of clean minimalism (and populist wood, such as walnut and cherry) that has remained relevant to this day.

The Bremen Table by Tom Moser celebrates this tradition. The Bremen Table is named in honor of the famous German town—and the less famous town of the same name here in Maine, a salute to a design continuum that connects our lands metaphorically. This table is inspired by the simplicity of true Biedermeier design while maintaining the fundamental Moser principles of hand labor and meticulous attention to detail.

Drawing on the success of the Vita Dining Table, Tom’s design of the Bremen Table incorporates a veneered top which is laid out in a starburst pattern (as shown above). This detail provides a prominent visual interest to complement the minimalist design.

The Bremen Table is turning heads in Boston! Click this link for details...
http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2009/03/stop-and-stare.html

Available in two sizes to accommodate up to 6 or 8 people, this table can be ordered in cherry or walnut (shown).

Piece of the Day - Something different, something new

2009-02-11T13:46:00.005-05:00

Tom Moser is working on a Traditional Chaise (prototype) and would like to know what you think of it...

The image shown above and those at the link below were taken in the lobby of our shop here in Maine shortly after Tom completed this first prototype. Before taking the next steps to refine the design, he'd like to hear what you have to say.

The survey (use link below) is just 6 questions and should only take a minute or two...

CLICK HERE to view additional photos of the Traditional Chaise (prototype)

CLICK HERE to proceed directly to the survey

Thank you for participating! Feel free to share any additional comments on this piece using the Comment function on this blog...thanks!

Piece of the Day: Pasadena Dining Chair by David Moser named “Best of Year” by Interior Design magazine

2008-12-18T17:10:00.005-05:00

We are pleased to announce that the Pasadena Dining Chair has taken a Best of Year Award in the Residential Dining Chair category at Interior Design magazine’s annual design competition. Finalists were selected by interior designers and architects via an online vote in October, and winners were determined by a jury of leading architects and designers. The magazine presented 64 awards at the third annual Best of Year Awards at New York's Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum on December 4.

“We are delighted to have been recognized at the BoY Awards,” said David Moser, designer of the Pasadena Collection. “We have always maintained that while our pieces may be rooted in tradition, they bring the best elements of modern design to bear as well. We feel very at home in a group of forward-thinking designers. We are honored to be included in this group.”

A modern, geometric hourglass defines both the Pasadena Side and Arm chairs, which continue the “motion” created by the collection’s dining table. There is only one straight angle on this chair, where the back and the seat joint are reinforced. The legs are faceted and splayed to provide stability without bulk. The seat is wide and comfortable, and the slender back of the side chair scrolls up from this strong foundation, comfortably supporting the sitter.

Piece of the Day - Introducing Kinesis

2008-11-21T16:43:00.012-05:00

Introducing the Kinesis Chair & Ottoman. These carved pieces are punctuated by sculpted, fine art bronze bases, a first from Moser making this a truly groundbreaking design. Taken as a whole, the Kinesis Chair & Ottoman combine three basic materials that have enriched mankind’s evolution from the dawn of civilization: wood, leather, and bronze. Kinesis will be officially introduced in our 2009 catalog, but can be pre-ordered today!

In a celebration of complementary materials Kinesis sits on a sculpted, five-star bronze base—cast at a local foundry—which provides solid enduring support and grounds the momentum of the piece. Wrapped leather or suede cloth upholstery further accentuates the curvilinear design.

In this short 4 minute video, David Moser discusses how his latest innovative design came to fruition...

PRE-ORDER TODAY
You can be among the first to own this exciting new design! Kinesis Chair & Ottoman will debut in our January 2009 catalog, however we are accepting pre-orders right now (delivery will be in the March/April 2009 timeframe). Pre-orders can be done online, through any of our showrooms, or by calling our Customer Care Center in Maine at 800-708-9045.

CLICK HERE NOW for pricing and other details.

How do you know when furniture is sexy?

2008-11-21T16:22:00.010-05:00

When is appears on the pages of the world's sexiest magazine, that's how! The Thos. Moser Chaise is featured in the 2008 edition of Playboy magazine's holiday gift guide (click image to enlarge)...

We can only imagine that being a copywrighter at Playboy must come with all kinds of opportunities for creativity, as evidenced by the text that they used to describe the Chaise:

The Thos. Moser Chaise plus an issue of Playboy plus two cocktails equals an evening well spent.

No matter how you intend to use it, we hope you'll agree that the Chaise is certainly one sexy piece of furniture.

Pasadena Dining Collection is Finalist for Prestigious Design Award

2008-11-17T16:09:00.013-05:00

UPDATE 12/18/08: The Pasadena Dining Chair has been named Best of Year! Click here for details.

We are so pleased that Thos. Moser has once again been recognized by the international design community...this time it is the third annual Best of Year Awards, the preeminent design competition recognizing superior interior design projects and products in more than 50 categories.

The Pasadena Dining Table and Pasadena Dining Chairs, designed by David Moser, are finalists in the Seating/Residential/Dining category.

Best of Year: Designers' Choice finalists were selected by interior designers and architects via an online vote October 6–15, 2008, and the winners are determined by a jury of leading architects and designers.

All award winners will be announced at a spectacular event at New York City's Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum on December 4, 2008 and featured in the Interior Design December issue. For more information about the awards ceremony, please read the invitation (pdf). To purchase tickets to the award ceremony, benefiting CIDA, please contact boyawards@reedbusiness.com.

Gift With Purchase

2008-10-30T12:13:00.003-04:00

One thing is for sure, and that is people generally like to get free stuff. They especially like it when it is something very special that will last a lifetime. So you can imagine how excited people have been to learn that Thos. Moser is offering a free gift of handcrafted fine furniture with any qualifying purchase during this holiday season.

From now until December 24th, you will receive a choice of items shown above with any qualifying purchase. In fact, our showrooms have a limited number of these items on hand if you would like to take your gift home with you when you place your order, either for yourself or as a holiday gift for a loved one. Or if you prefer, we can ship it to the address of your choice. Please note that orders must be placed by December 10 in time for receipt of your gift by December 24.

There are some restrictions and a minimum order size is necessary to qualify, so CLICK HERE NOW to get all the details at our website.

Piece of the Day - Chine Chaise

2008-10-23T08:31:00.013-04:00

Originally conceived as a studio piece, the Chine Chaise is yet another extraordinary design by David Moser, crafted entirely from re-imagined elements of the Edo Chair.

More than a few of us thought David was making a sculpture, not a piece of furniture, when we first encountered him working on it in the shop—until we reclined in it.

Then it was clear this was a striking and functional piece; we decided to make a few more and offer them for sale. This eye-grabbing piece is a sure way to make a statement.

This piece is part of our new Studio Session collection, which includes three unique designs by David and his father (and our founder) Tom Moser. For more details, CLICK HERE NOW.

To celebrate the introduction of the Studio Session designs, we are offering a limited quantity of 10 (TEN) numbered and signed 2008 first editions of each piece.

How to inspire a cabinetmaker

2008-10-10T15:49:00.014-04:00

Our Customer in Residence (CIR) program was created as a unique opportunity for our customers to visit our shop and, under the direction of a seasoned cabinetmaker, make their own piece of furniture utilizing the same tools and woodworking techniques that our own craftspeople use on a daily basis. Created as a customer-focused program, one of the nice "side effects" has been the impact it has had on our employees, specifcally the cabinetmakers who get to work alongside the customers during this week-long immersion program.

Below is a short video of cabinetmaker Harley Swanson, who recently had his first chance to work side-by-side with one of our customers. In this clip from the furniture-signing ceremony of our most recent session, Harley speaks to the impact that it had on him...

To learn more about this inspirational program, read about it on this blog or visit the CIR page on our website.

We have another class of CIR participants arriving next week so hopefully we'll have a few words from the participants that we'll be able to post here...stay tuned!

Thos. Moser featured at BrandMinute.com

2008-10-10T11:17:00.012-04:00

What do high-powered international brands like Coca Cola, Apple, Porche, Microsoft, Disney, McDonalds, Patagonia, Accenture, and Vitamin Water all have in common with Thos. Moser? All of those companies have also been featured at BrandMinute.com, a blog that "covers your favorite brands in about a minute". Created by an integrated marketing firm based outside Boston, BrandMinute.com features marketing, branding and design news and information that's concise, street-smart and fun to read.

Today BrandMinute.com features our Los Angeles showroom (shown above), calling it "classic design for Southern California". They went on to say, "the new Thos. Moser store in Los Angeles was carefully planned to reflect this Maine company’s commitment to sustainability."

CLICK HERE to read the entire blog entry.

And if you happen to live in southern California or will be in the area on Nov. 8, we invite you to stop by the showroom as we host a reception honoring another great Maine organization The Jackson Laboratory, a world-renowned research center that is leading the search for tomorrow's cures. This event will include a keynote address by Dr. Charles Hewett, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of The Jackson Laboratory. For all the details, please CLICK HERE to read about it at our website.

Coming soon...a day in the life of the Moser workshop

2008-10-08T13:54:00.009-04:00

We recently picked up a Flip video camera in the hopes that we can start to bring you some video from our shop and other interesting places.

For our first test, we thought we'd post a brief clip of where it all starts in our shop...The Woodpile.

Thos. Moser furniture is crafted from American Black Cherry, a sustainable bequest from the Allegheny Plateau of Pennsylvania. The learn about our board selection process, take our online shop tour, or come see the real thing at our workshop in Maine.

Stay tuned for more videos...if there is anything in particular you'd like us to show from our shop, please post your request as a comment below and we'll do our best to make it happen!

Piece of the Day - Chaise

2008-10-03T13:29:00.009-04:00

The Chaise takes its inspiration from furniture designs created by European architects in the 1920's and 1930's.

Taking our cue from Alvar Aalto, we've replaced tubular steel with the warmth of natural cherry and mortise-and-tenon joinery.

The sinuous cherry frame supports a webbed back, upholstered in full-grain leather. A removable headrest provides additional comfort, if desired. The two-position Chaise reclines fully without any handles or gadgets. Simply lean back and let gravity do the rest.

A blogger from BC discovers Thos. Moser

2008-10-02T20:18:00.007-04:00

"BC" as in British Columbia...Nelson, British Columbia to be exact. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in what we do day-to-day here that we almost forget that the world does not revolve around Auburn, Maine. But then we may take an order from a customer in Germany, or get a call from a new "fan" in Texas who just came across our website for the first time, or we may read a blog post by Andrea in Nelson, British Columbia and we once again realize that this is truely a time of globalization.

So whether you live next door or on the other side of the planet, we invite you to read Andrea's blog, as well as some of the others that have been noted in this space, and then maybe you too will feel like you've got some new friends from all over the world.

More from the Messler Gallery in Rockport...

2008-09-22T11:50:00.010-04:00

We first blogged about this Moser legacy show a few weeks ago, and since then Tom Moser spoke to a crowd at the opening reception for the current show of furniture designs by Moser workshop alumni at the Messler Gallery, which is part of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine. "Legacy of Talent: A Moser Reunion" presents contemporary furniture by Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers in conjunction with work by seven accomplished furniture makers who passed through the Moser workshops early in their careers. The furniture on display in the gallery illustrates how passing through the Moser workshops informed the trajectories of talented craftsmen who have gone on to explore exciting new directions and to inspire others with their own significant design accomplishments.

"Legacy of Talent: A Moser Reunion" will remain on view at the Rockport furniture center through Nov. 28.

Click here to read a review of this show at mainetoday.com:

Here is a quote from the center's director about the show, as exerpted from the reference article on mainetoday.com...

Peter Korn, the center's executive director, thought it would be instructive to bring them together for a reunion, to see how their common Moser connection has influenced their careers.

"I love the idea that people go through life and go through a passage and blossom out," Korn said. "I like the way that one thing leads to another, and I like that one person's creativity sprouts unpredictable tendrils."

UPDATED OCT 8: The Furniture Society is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization founded in 1996, whose mission is to advance the art of furniture making, by inspiring creativity, promoting excellence, and fostering an understanding of this art and its place in society. They have posted information about this exhibit on their blog, here is the link: http://www.furnituresociety.org/showing/?p=307

Home is Where the Art Is

2008-09-20T11:31:00.005-04:00

Another blogger discovers Thos. Moser, this time in Lincoln, Nebraska. Rebecca had some very kinds words and we are most appreciative!

Click here now to read Rebecca's blog post about Thos. Moser.

Boston celebrates Fashion Week in style!

2008-09-19T13:08:00.006-04:00

We had an amazing turnout last night in our Boston Showroom with over 300 people joining us for Boston's Fashion Week's, "Great Syle Makes the Man, an evening devoted to menswear".

Drinkwaters of Cambridge provided the sharp Fall looks. Stilista, Boston's style consultants provided the male models, all set amid our furnishings of Thos. Moser, with works of art provided by Canvas Fine Arts Gallery. This was all to benefit Boston Strive. Alan Spencer, Director of Retention Services for Boston Strive was on hand to talk about his amazing charity.

The front sidewalks of the Thos. Moser Showroom had a red carpet leading to the curb flanked by red ropes, The showroom's front windows had male models that did freeze modeling throughout the event...with our beautiful Pasadena Living Collection as a back drop. The center of the showroom was used as a runway to show off the fall fashions. Some of the media in attendence included Boston Magazine, which Drinkwaters clothier and Thos. Moser had been voted " Best of".

It was a fun filled night all for a great cause!

Boston Showroom manager Chris Eramo, with Alan Spencer, Director of Retention Services for Boston Strive:

David Moser Tapped To Design Lifetime Achiement Award for Jackson Lab Honorees

2008-09-12T10:47:00.019-04:00

The Jackson Laboratory (www.jax.org) is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution and National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center based in Bar Harbor, Maine, with a facility in Sacramento, California. Its mission is to discover the genetic basis for preventing, treating, and curing human diseases, and to enable research and education for the global biomedical community. In addition to being a research facility, Jackson Lab is an international hub for scientific courses, conferences, training, and education. Located within a stone’s throw from beautiful Acadia National Park, it’s just one more reason to come visit us in Maine.

We were especially proud of our longstanding relationship, when recently, Jackson Lab commissioned David Moser to design and create The Jackson Laboratory Lifetime Achievement Awards. These awards honored two extraordinary leaders in the world of life sciences and human health: David Baltimore Ph.D., and Anthony Evnin, Ph.D., at Jackson Lab’s very first National Gala, on September 18, 2008, at The Pierre Hotel in New York. David is shown below with the wax model of the bronze sculpture on its cherry base and presentation stand. If you’re interested in finding more information about this special event, click here.

About David's award design:
The award itself is cast in bronze and sits on a handcrafted cherry base. The inspiration of the award is the double helix structure of DNA. David chose DNA as the central feature of the award because it represents the foundation from which the critically important research that these scientists perform is built upon.

About the award recipients:
This national gala is co-chaired by Maine businessman and philanthropist David Shaw and actress Glenn Close and will honor two extraordinary leaders in the world of life sciences and human health: David Baltimore, Ph.D., and Anthony Evnin, Ph.D.

Dr. Baltimore was awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine in 1975 at the age of 37, and has been a pioneer in research related to cancer, AIDS, and the molecular basis of the immune response. He has established new methodologies to fight cancer and has been instrumental in the global effort to create an HIV vaccine. Beyond his research activities he has served as president of Caltech and Rockefeller University, and a vast array of public poilicy and other initiatives.

Dr. Evnin has been a central figure in the development of the US biotechnology industry and the healthcare venture capital world as a partner at Venrock Associates in New York since 1974. He has served on the boards of nearly 40 newly-formed life science companies including Athena Neurosciences, Centocor, Genetics Institute, IDEC Pharmaceuticals, and Sepracor. Dr. Evnin has also served as a trustee of Princeton University and Rockefeller University.

The Jackson Laboratory is presenting awards to Dr. Evnin and Dr. Baltimore, and James Schiro will represent Zurich Financial Services as the evening’s Corporate Chair. Funds raised by the national gala will support young investigators at The Jackson Laboratory, continuing a long history of important scientific breakthroughs, supporting tomorrow’s cures.

COMING TO LOS ANGELES IN NOVEMBER!
If you are in the neighborhood of our LA showroom or plan on visiting there in November, please join us for a special event in their honor on Saturday, November 8th, from 5 to 7 p.m. The evening’s activities will include a cocktail reception where you can meet Jackson Laboratory representatives and hear a keynote address by Charles E. Hewett, Ph.D., the Laboratory’s vice president and chief operating officer. We hope you will join us as we celebrate nearly eight decades of research accomplishments by Jackson Laboratory scientists.

The Moser Legacy Explored

2008-09-11T15:57:00.019-04:00

Since founding his company over 35 years ago, not only has Tom Moser received international acclaim for his own work, but he has also influenced a countless number of designers and craftsmen (and craftswomen!). Over the years the Thos. Moser workshop has proven to be a fertile training ground, and more than a handful of these talented artisans have combined what they learned from Tom with their own talents and struck out on their own path of discovery.

Starting on September 12th, The Messler Gallery at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine presents "Legacy of Talent: A Moser Reunion". This show features an exhibition of contemporary furniture by Tom Moser, David Moser, and seven other accomplished designers and craftsman who passed through the Thos. Moser workshop early in their careers.

The featured Moser alumni are Doug Green of Green Design Furniture in Portland; Bill Huston of Huston & Co. in Kennebunkport; Kevin Rodel Furniture & Design Studio of Brunswick; Peter Thompson of Cornville; Jas. Becker Cabinetmaker of Wilder, Vt.; Vigneron Design Studio of Housatonic, Mass.; and Stewart Wurtz Furniture of Seattle, Wash.

The show runs from September 12th until November 28th.

There will be an opening reception on Friday, September 12th, from 5:00pm-7:00pm.

For more information, please click here to read about it in the local Rockport news, or visit www.woodschool.org.

The Messler Gallery Hours are 9:00am-5:00pm Monday through Friday, and 10:00am-4:00pm on Saturdays. The gallery is located at 25 Mill Street in Rockport, Maine.

A Comfortable Seat That Rocks

2008-08-30T16:07:00.001-04:00

We got some nice ink in the Baltimore Sun over this past weekend (although using the term "ink" almost qualifies as old school since so many people get their news online these days) about our classic New Gloucester Rocker. Rita St. Clair is a Baltimore-based interior designer and often writes about home-design issues and trends. This time around she was answering a question from a reader about where to find a comfortable rocker. Here is a brief snippet of what she had to say...

Such a beautiful adaptation of a classic American design will go nicely in most homes with modern or contemporary designs. And not only are the chair's proportions appealing, but they also make it comfortable to sit in.

To read the entire Q&A, please CLICK HERE.

And since the online version of the article did not include a photo, here is one for your viewing pleasure...

Furniture Fashion Knows Good Design When They See It...Again

2008-08-30T15:24:00.005-04:00

The folks at the Furniture Fashion blog have single out one of David Moser's designs, yet again. This time they shine the spotlight on the Pasadena Dining Chair.

Here is a bit of what they had to say...

The elegant hourglass shape of this classical arm or side chair has only one flat plane that otherwise seems carved rather than assembled. Shapely legs are faceted and splayed to provide stability without bulk using the least amount of material needed to comfortably support the sitter. The Pasadena's seats are wide and as comfortable as any solid wood dining chair could be without upholstery thanks to a well defined contour of the seat.

Thanks so much, we appreciate the kind words! Click this link to view the blog...
http://www.furniturestoreblog.com/2008/08/30/the_pasadena_traditional_dining_chair_from_thomas_moser.html

Piece of the Day - Sofia Lounge Seating

2008-08-15T21:00:00.015-04:00

Perhaps no other piece we've designed better celebrates the natural glory of cherry and our desire to create objects of timeless grace than the Sofia seating collection.

The long cherry panels and wine-glass-shaped corner joints remind us of the graceful lines of an old wooden boat transom.

One's eye is drawn along the swirling cherry patterns of its side panels to the darker, delicately tapered corner joint framed between.

The contemporary lines of the Sofia collection will accompany an eclectic mix of pieces.

Blending graceful curves and straight edges is no simple task, and the innovative use of pendantives to create the stunning dome of the Hagia Sofia in Instanbul, Turkey, was the inspiration for Tom Moser's design.

Dallas Loves Pasadena!

2008-08-05T14:08:00.009-04:00

We don't currently have a showroom in Dallas, or anywhere in Texas for that matter (a situation we hope we can address someday), so getting noticed there in the morning newspaper is even more special for us than it would be in one of the seven cities where we do have showrooms.

Paige Phelps from the Dallas Morning News writes that she is "in love" with David Moser's new Pasadena Living Collection. These pieces, a Slipper Chair and Ottoman, Sofa, and set of 3 occasional tables, follow on the heels of the very successful dining collection of the same name, introduced earlier this year. Here are a few photos of these exciting new pieces...

To read Paige's review of this new collection, please use this link:
http://shoppingblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/08/thomas-mosers-new-pasadena-liv.html

To view more photos of these pieces, along with pricing and other info, on our website simply click on the images above.

MOSERform Makes Debut in Los Angeles Showroom

2008-07-24T21:13:00.003-04:00

After much anticipation, MOSERFORM has finally made its way to the Los Angeles Showroom! So far, the collection has had a tremendous response from visitors. This photo, taken less than an hour after the MOSERFORM arrival, shows the furniture’s gorgeous display in the entrance of the showroom, giving a warm and attractive welcome to all who pass through the front door.

Boston showroom hosts AIDS Action Committee event

2008-07-23T13:01:00.012-04:00

The Thos. Moser Boston Showroom hosted the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts for their Executive Staff and Board of Directors annual Business Gratitude Event on Thursday July 17th.

This gathering of representatives from the business community was an opportunity for the AIDS Action Committee to thank them for their support throughout the year! It was a great night with more than 80 people from the Boston business community in attendance.

Guest Speaker Dr. Michael T. Wong

Many of the attendees were either private or cooporate level sponsors of the AIDS Action Committee, along with the AIDS Action Committee's board members and friends.

Event attendees (from left) James Poulos, Rick Larkin, and Peter Nee, along with showroom manager Chris Eramo.

Food was provided through Smith and Wolinsky's of Boston. Wine and beverages were generously donated through David Zimmerman of Spirit Magazine. Guest speakers were Dr. Michael T. Wong and Rick Larkin.

Guest speaker Rick Larkin.

Any of our showrooms can be an excellent venue for your organization's next reception, meeting, fundraiser or other event. Please don't hesitate to contact us to discuss the details.

It's a big planet, but a small world

2008-07-21T16:57:00.004-04:00

A customer came into our our Freeport Showroom over the weekend and told our associate Lyndall a great ‘small world’ story. This customer had bid on and won a small Moser package at a Portland Symphonty Orchestra auction held across the street from the showroom at the Harraseeket Inn this spring – the package consisted of a copyof Tom Moser's book Artistry in Wood, a Thos. Moser basball cap, and a Simon Pearce glassware pitcher.

She and her husband were traveling in Russia in late June and she was wearing the Moser hat. While standing in St. Petersburg Square, another traveling American tapped her on the shoulder and said they had just purchased a lot of Moser furniture and, by the way, did she know about the free shipping promo.

Although we are fortunate enough to have customers from across the country and all over the world, at the end of the day we are still a relatively small enterprise. Hearing how a simple Thos. Moser logo baseball cap can create a random connection like that on the other side of the globe really made our day!

Piece of the Day - Radius Desk

2008-07-17T13:54:00.011-04:00

The Radius Desk is an oasis of spare, understated elegance in any professional setting or home office. This desk offers an expansive work surface with six slender legs attached to a flitch-cut cherry apron with pinned mortise-and-tenon joints. Small drawers at each end eliminate clutter.

The clean lines and curved front of the Radius Desk transform any office into an elegant presentation with plenty of work surface, smart wire management and optional small drawers on each end.

Available with either a solid cherry top or with three panels of full-grain, soft-textured leather.

The Typing Table and Secretary Stand are designed to go with the Radius Desk, functioning as a return that gives additonal flexibility and work surface space.

Summer Camp - it's not just for kids anymore

2008-07-11T11:34:00.005-04:00

Washington Spaces magazine, our favorite "shelter book" from our nation's capital, posted a nice story about our Customer In Residence program on their blog. If you haven't heard about this program yet, please swing by the Washington Spaces blog and check it out, or you can read about it on our "offical" website as well:

Customer in Residence on Washington Spaces blog

Customer In Residence "official" site

We'll see if we can get a first hand account of the program posted here on the Moser blog as well, so stay tuned...

Piece of the Day - Vita Lounge

2008-07-09T08:25:00.009-04:00

The Vita Lounge continues our attempts to interpret good historical design in a Thos. Moser manner. This piece is an extension of the design of the Vita Chair which pays tribute to master architect Mies van der Rohe, designer of the ubiquitous Barcelona Chair and originator of the term "less is more", harnessing the natural strength of wood to achieve suspension and cantilever with minimal form.

The curved seat and back are constructed with solid matched-grain cherry and suspended over laminated, curved feet. The tufted, hand-stitched cushions are ergonomically set in the cantilevered frame making the Vita Lounge a luxurious oasis on which the body–and the eye–will feel free to linger.

This piece is part of our Vita Collection, designed by David Moser and since it's inception as a living room collection has grown to include a bed and dresser, dining table and chairs, and custom media cabinets.

Celeb Sightings and other news from LA

2008-07-06T18:53:00.005-04:00

Greetings Moser-philes! We are so excited to join forces with all of you, on this excellent corner of cyber-space. Wood enthusiasts up and down the west coast are a buzz, and we couldn’t agree with them more. The sun has been generous, during this, otherwise, June-gloom time of the year. Though we have had record temperatures, “hot” not only refers to what’s happening on the Malibu beaches. Culver City is topping the thermostat with the hottest in the design world, with innovating new ideas, high quality furniture, and an all-in-all look that cannot be beat. It would be no surprise that Thos. Moser is holding its own in the midst of the Helms Bakery District, the cornerstone of design in Culver City. We’re in our fourth month, and so far our response has been overwhelming!

Vice Presidential Visit
On Wednesday, June 25, 2008, David Mehlhorn visited our showroom for the first time since our Grand Opening. David is our vice president of sales and marketing and is the person who first scouted this terrific Helms Bakery location for us.

Not surprisingly, paparazzi lined the streets of Culver City, hoping to catch a few snapshots of the celebrity-from-within the Moser family. Soon after his arrival, he was spotted having lunch with Los Angeles Showroom Manager, Liza Robinson-Vidal at Wilson, Culver City hotspot, featured in the July 2008 edition of Gourmet Magazine, as one of Culver City’s Top Restaurants.

Keep It Clean, Keep It Green!
In keeping with the Los Angeles Showroom’s “Green Theme,” July 1st is the starting date for our new cleaning staff. Ho hum, you say? Well, sometimes the “little” things can still excite us, and in this case it’s the fact that the new crew will be using bio-sustainable, and eco-friendly cleaning products. What a breath of fresh, clean air!

Other Masters Of Woodwork Unite!
Los Angeles’s L.A. Modern, begins the L.A. Modern Auctions, on display at the Pacific Design Center. Up for auction are various pieces by George Nakashima, one of Tom Moser’s influences (as Tom discusses in his book, Artistry in Wood) and Sam Maloof, who you may recall was gracious enough to participate in our Grand Opening weekend. More info at http://www.lamodern.com.

It’s Easy Being Green!
Also this week, Liza attended the Culver City Green Business Association (last month they held their 1-year anniversary in our showroom, click here for pics). Nearly 15 members attended, many of which were new to the organization. Congrats to our own Liza who got voted in as the Membership Chair. There was quite a bit of discussion regarding the mixed use development at Washington Blvd. / National Blvd., and also the Expo Light Rail.

High Fidelity To A Good Night Sleep
John Cusak was recently seen wandering into Hastens Mattress Company and Moser neighbor in the Helms Bakery District, in dark glasses with a hood over his head (understandable, in this harsh, sunny, Southern California climate).

Hastens Staff members believed him to be homeless. When the glasses came off, however, they realized it was total “Serendipity.” http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000131

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT!
Aaron Moser made a surprise visit into town last Saturday. Aaron has been around the company since his folks Tom & Mary started it over 36 years ago, and for the last decade-plus he has been instrumental in guiding its growth while working in various capacities.

Liza drove to Anaheim and accompanied Aaron, Michael Brown (from our Freeport Showroom, at left with Liza), and John Kluzak (oversees our engineering department, above with Aaron) to Yardhouse, a new trendy concept restaurant in Orange County. Kitchen staff at Yardhouse pulled out all the stops to create the best presentation possible, as they only wanted the best for someone of Aaron’s elite culinary background (you may not know that Aaron holds a degree in culinary arts from Johnson & Wales University and is quite an amazing chef in his own right). http://www.yardhouse.com/

Next Week – LA Premiere of MOSERFORM
Next week will see the arrival of five pieces of MOSERFORM furniture will arrive in the LA showroom on July 9, in preparation of the July 10 ASID Trade event, which will also be held in the showroom. To learn more about MOSERFORM, click here.

Culver City, Won’t You Blow Your Horn!

2008-07-06T16:58:00.005-04:00

Everyone in Culver City is very excited about the soon to arrive light rail “Expo” that will take visitors from Culver City to Santa Monica. The closest station to our showroom will be at the corner of Washington Blvd. and National, next to Surfas Restaurant and Grocery. http://www.buildexpo.org

It’s Standing Room Only! So How About A Nice Moser Piece To Take A Load Off??

2008-07-06T16:54:00.004-04:00

Showroom manager Liza Robinson-Vidal met C. Raul Espinoza, Audience Development Manager at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, at the Los Angeles Downtown Business Association Meeting last week. Mr. Espinoza coordinated a Special Community Preview of “Of Equal Measure,” a riveting new play starring Tanya Barfield. Meanwhile, Los Angeles Associate, Charles Chatelain, attended the event. Liza will be speaking to the Kirk Douglas Theatre about a possible Thos. Moser display in the lobby. Such a display will be great exposure for Thos. Moser, as the theatre draws in frequent crowds. Check out what’s playing now at http://www.centertheatregroup.org/theatres/douglas.

Piece of the Day - Astral Bench

2008-07-02T14:04:00.012-04:00

Ok, you just knew this one had to be coming up soon...the Astral Bench is one of the most intersting and unique pieces we make.

In the late 1970s, Tom Moser spent some time in Denmark and fell in love with the tailored design and perfect proportions that were always characteristics of Danish furniture design. The Astral Bench falls squarely in this clean, structured school, shaping space with strict regularity and dramatic form.

When light hits this piece, the room comes alive in a pattern frequency reminiscent of a celestial arc—thus its celestial name.

The Astral Bench is constructed of cherry “matchsticks” joined in a solid, gently curving bench seat, which in turn seems to float in midair. The integrity of the entire bench relies on the careful placement of each separate element and masterful joinery techniques.

First conceived as a "statement piece" for large universities and corporate spaces, the original design (directly above) arced almost 90 degrees and therefore required no "feet", but it also required a massive space.

For residential use, we re-designed the bench (shown below) so it now curves at a more gentle 128-degree radius, echoing a natural geometry that softens the linear construction of this piece.

This last photo (directly above) is of our Los Angeles Showroom, which is currently the only one of our showrooms where you can see an Astral Bench in person.

The standard residential Astral Bench measures 32"H x 147"W x 43"D and sells for $12,000. It can also can be made in a number of different diameters and lengths so please call or email for quote.

Spend a night at the new Moser suite at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport

2008-07-02T10:16:00.014-04:00

Next time you visit our Freeport Showroom, you may want to consider a night in the Thos. Moser suite at the Harraseeket Inn.

The Inn’s room 214 has been completely renovated and redecorated using pieces from our extensive furniture collection. The Moser Room, which opened on Sunday, April 13th, also includes furnishings and accessories by many other well-respected New England companies, as well as the work of several well-known Maine artists.

The Moser Room experience begins just after guests cross the threshold: a permanent wall installation by artists Colin Sullivan-Stevens and Friederike Hamann of the Portland, Maine–based company Field is inspired by the American black cherry forests of the Allegheny Plateau of Pennsylvania, source of much of Moser’s sustainably grown and harvested wood. This subtle piece renders Moser’s deep connection to—and responsibility for—natural resources and sets the tone for the whole space.

The room’s large fireplace features natural sandstone tiles with a live-edge walnut accent, and the eco-friendly floor is soft, chocolate-colored cork tiles. In-suite doors evoke New England barns reminiscent of Tom and Mary Moser’s early years in rural Maine, and family photographs share a rich sense of the family’s history. Luxurious wool area rugs from Savaeviah, hand-forged fireplace tools and fine art lighting fixtures create unique areas of comfort in the bedroom and living areas of the room.

The floor-to-ceiling curtains have been made with fine fabrics from Robert Allen, a long-time partner of ours, whose extensive collection of fabrics is available in our showrooms.

The furniture in the Moser suite is a mix of classic Moser pieces designed by our Tom Moser, as well as more modern collections designed by his son, David. Pieces in the room include a walnut Pencil Post Queen Bed, several of our various occasional tables, a workspace complete with an Aria Writing Desk and Pasadena Side Chair, a lounge area with Vita seating, and a Dr. White’s Chest. Our signature piece, the Continuous Arm Chair, is also represented in the suite in both a children’s version and one for adults. Everything in the room is available for purchase; other pieces of furniture and artwork can also be customized and commissioned upon request, and a complete portfolio of all furniture, arts and accessories is available to guests.

To book your stay in the Moser suite at Harraseeket Inn, give them a call at (800) 342-6423 or visit the reservations page of their website. Tell 'em the Moser blog sent ya.

Piece of the Day - Reader's Table

2008-07-01T07:51:00.011-04:00

Welcome to July! It feels like just yesterday we were shoveling snow so it is a bit hard to believe that the 4th of July is almost upon us. But here we are and today's Piece of the Day celebrates the influence Frank Lloyd Wright, who in 1991 was named by the American Institute of Architects as "the greatest American architect of all time."

Wright believed in the concept of organic design, a contextual approach that takes into account relationship between the site and the building and the needs of the client and marries them all together. In the same vein, the architectural lines of our Reader's Table table unify and balance the span of its nine-foot-long cherry top.

Tom Moser originally developed this piece for university libraries, and its construction is designed to withstand rigorous daily use, while satisfying the classic aesthetics of institutions such as UCLA and Lawrenceville School. Each solid cherry leg measures over three inches square and is recessed to provide comfortable leg room for up to ten people. Paired with our Reader's Chair, this table will add a sense of strength and stature to your home.

Thos. Moser links:
Reader's Table
Reader's Chair

Frank Lloyd Wright links:
Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
Frank Lloyd Wright on PBS.org
Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust

Visiting our LA showroom? Come hungry...

2008-06-30T22:55:00.000-04:00

One of the reasons we chose the Helms Bakery for our new Los Angeles showroom was because of its central location in Culver City. This area just West of downtown LA has been undergoing a revival of sorts over the last several years, and not only do shoppers have a lot to choose from, but dining has also become a big draw here.

The July, 2008 issue of Gourmet magazine has a nice feature on the dining destinations, some new and some not-so-new, in and around Culver City. Here is an exerpt:

Today, Culver City is the unlikely home of one of the country's most explosive dining scenes and is drawing eaters from all over Los Angeles. The leafy downtown streets have been colonized by sidewalk tables, and the Helms Bakery, a hulking Art Deco building less than a mile from Sony, contains three perpetually crowded restaurants. There's even an emerging Culver Ciry culinary identity, a cheerful and confident mingling of Mediterranean, Japanese, Indian, and Mexican techniques and ingredients.

To read the entire article, which includes overviews of some of the most popular Culver City eateries, click here to download a .pdf scan.

So whether you live near Los Angeles or are just visiting, you owe it to yourself not only to visit our newest showroom but to also check out the area's new dining hotspots.

Piece of the Day

2008-06-30T13:18:00.007-04:00

A new tradition is born....the Piece of the Day. Each day (or something close to that) we'll list a diferent Moser original as our piece of the day. We'll try to not always focus only on those pieces that are simply the most popular, but include those that for some reason or another might tend to get overlooked or overshadowed by other pieces that we make.

Ok, to start this off {insert drum roll here}...our first Piece of the Day is...

American Bungalow Media Cabinet (custom)
Tom Moser has always said that we build furniture for people, not for equipment. This may be one reason why our collection of standard media cases and TV stands is somewhat limited. However, I picked this piece for precisely that reason. Many people, especially those who are new to Thos. Moser, may not realize that we do custom work. In fact, we do a lot of custom work. In our world, "custom" can mean a simple size modification to one of our standard pieces, or a complete, never-seen-before one-off piece that is designed in collaboration with a customer to fit a specific need. This custom media case is an example of exactly that. So, if this particular piece doesn't suit your specific needs, please feel free to give us a call and we'll do our best accomodate you!

Thos. Moser LA Showroom hosts local green business association

2008-06-20T14:01:00.012-04:00

On July 18 our Los Angeles showroom in Culver City was honored to host the one year anniversary celebration of the Culver City Green Business Association (CCGBA).

This was a chance for local business and community leaders to come together in our beautiful showroom to meet other Culver City business owners and learn how green is good for business and good for the planet. Culver City Mayor Scott Malsin provided the opening welcome, and CCGBA co-chairs Greg Reitz (REthink Development Corp) and Ellen Strickland (Livingreen) provided an introduction to CCGBA and its membership.

The keynote speaker was Wally Marks, owner of the Helms Bakery District (where we are located). Wally's remarks focused on "Why 'green' business is good business" and he gave an overview of the amazing rennovation that he has overseen of the Helms Bakery and how green practices and technologies were incorporated into every facet of the project.

CLICK HERE TO SEE A PHOTO COLLAGE OF THE EVENT (.bmp, 3 MBs)

The event was catered by Green Truck. Organic wine was donated for this event from Mountain Peoples Wine & Beer Distributors and Casa Barranca Certified Organic Winery and Vineyard.

Furniture Fashion Knows Good Design When They See It

2008-06-03T08:21:00.007-04:00

We found a new blog today...Furniture Fashion, also known as Furniture Store Blog, provides ideas, pictures, and articles on interior design, home décor, furniture, and decorating. Thier mission is providing people information about furnishings to beautify and personalize their environment while increasing quality of life through great design. With a mission like that, it should come as no surprise that they have blogged about Thos. Moser on several occasions, here are the links:

Vita Oval Dining Table and Chairs by Thomas Moser

When it comes to outstanding design and execution of construction, the Thomas Moser line of handcrafted wood furniture is simple, graceful, and built for a lifetime of use...

Edo Rocking Chair and CHZ Chaise Lounge from Thomas Moser

Here are two more really unique furniture designs from Thomas Moser that will make as much of a visual statement as they will a comfortable place to sit...

Thos. Moser recognized for leadership in promoting sustainability

2008-06-02T08:16:00.012-04:00

For their June 2008 issue, World Trade Magazine's cover story features a list of some of the top companies in the world. They describe it as their "annual eclectic list of the companies, people and places who are pushing the global trading community forward. The ways are various, the results innovative. This year’s winners, selected by our editors and contributors, all satisfy the critical criterion: their efforts make the global supply chain more sustainable."

Thos. Moser is listed alongside such influencial people, companies, places and ideas as Warren Buffet, Henry Paulson, Google, Japan, e-auctions, the US Marines, carbon-neutral shipping and many others.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTCILE.

Here is the entry about Thos. Moser:

Thos. Moser, an American Furniture Maker
Of the many U.S. manufacturing industries that have been impacted by globalization, the furniture industry has been hit particularly hard. Foreign competition, mainly from China, has trimmed more than 120,000 furniture industry jobs nationwide since 2000—about one-third of the industry’s U.S. workforce. But Tom Moser, a furniture maker located in Maine, has consistently proved that U.S. consumers will support expertly skilled American craftsmen and classic design (and pay a premium for it). In fact, when it comes to high-end luxury products, U.S. craftsmen and designers are still at the top of their game.

World Trade Magazine also published a feature about Tom and the company (written by Lara Sowinski who was kind enough to join us for our LA Showroom opening), which ran as the cover story back in October, 2002, CLICK HERE TO READ IT.

Thos. Moser has a Shipyard Moment

2008-05-30T14:19:00.005-04:00

The Grand Opening of our new showroom in Los Angeles was a successful beyond our wildest expectations. Not only were we able to finally meet and greet many of our loyal customers from the LA area (some of whom bought their first Moser pieces via mail order more than 30 years ago), but we also met many new customers and friends. As a company from Maine, we are quite proud of our "Yankee" heritage and hope that in our own way we are able to add some Maine flavor to the already-rich Southern California pallette.

For the Grand Opening, we quite literally brought the flavor of Maine with us in the form of some of the best beer brewed anyplace in world. Shipyard Brewing Company handcrafts their fine beers just steps from the water's edge on the beautiful coast of Maine. When they asked if we would share our "Shipyard Moment" as part of their on-going radio and web campaign, of course we were happy to participate.

CLICK HERE TO HEAR OUR SHIPYARD MOMENT (MP3)

Shipyard was recently awarded top honors at the prestigious 9th annual West Coast Brew Fest's Commercial Craft Competition in Sacramento, California. Click here for details.

This Old House features David Moser

2008-05-29T17:14:00.006-04:00

This Old House magazine has recently published an article by Thomas Baker titled How Heirloom Furniture is Built that chronicles the craft of furniture making as it is practiced at Thos. Moser. Told through a lengthy interview with David Moser and accompanied by more than a dozen photos, this article is a "behind-the-scenes" look at making Thos. Moser furniture.

Here is a short exerpt:

At Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers, a small but world-renowned shop in Auburn, Maine, David Moser picks up three cherry boards and lays them edge to edge. He’s hunting for pieces that will match up so well that no joint will show when they’re glued together to form the top of an American Bungalow dresser. Selecting the wood that will go into each piece is the first critical step in creating finely crafted cherry furniture.

It’s a ritual driven by a deep reverence for this wood. All of David Moser’s cherry comes from a 119,000-acre, sustainably managed parcel in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Plateau, where big 75- and 100-year-old specimens produce a clear, rich-colored wood unmatched elsewhere in the tree’s range. For stock of this provenance, it would be a sin to muddy the grain with stain or hide it under paint, so pieces are treated only with clear penetrating oil and wax.

Click here to read the entire article and see the photos.

Save at the Thos. Moser Summer Annex in Washington, DC

2008-05-16T16:41:00.006-04:00

We are trying something new this summer...we have taken a temporary lease on a storefront on M Street in Washington DC's Georgetown neighborhood, just a few stores up from our Washington, DC showroom, and brought in few truckloads of Moser furniture and made it available for immediate purchase.

You see, even though we are a build-to-order shop, over time we accumulate inventory in various ways. This includes showroom floor models, one-of-a-kinds, not-quite-perfect, prototypes, and pieces that we have taken back form customers for various reasons. When this inventory builds up, we need to take some unusual steps to sell it. And because many of these pieces may have what we call "character marks" or some other characteristic that makes something other than a new 1st quality piece, it only makes sense that someone may want to see the person in person before buying it. That's where this event comes in.

From May 16 to June 29 we'll be open at our Summer Event Annex (and continuing by appointment starting June 30), just a few doors down from our DC showroom. The available inventory will be refreshed throughout the event so if at first you don't find what you want, be sure to plan a return trip.

For more information, directions/parking suggestions, pricing and local delivery rates, please contact the showroom, CLICK HERE, or just stop by.

Thos. Moser Washington, DC Showroom in Georgetown:
3300 M Street NW
Washington, DC 20007
p: 800-708-9061
e: mailto:dcshowroom@thosmoser.com?subject=Special%20Savings%20Event

Boston supports Walden Woods at Moser showroom

2008-04-17T23:38:00.004-04:00

On April 17 our Boston Showroom hosted a very special evening in support of The Walden Woods Project. The evening was also the kickoff of the current art show in the showroom, which features paintings by Lynn Avery and sculptures by Linda Hoffman.

And what a great event it was! We had so many people coming and going throughout the course of the night it was difficult to get a firm count, but we think we had more than 200 people come in, which is a superb turnout! Juliet Trofi, Assistant to the Executive Director of the to The Walden Woods Project, represented that organization, and from her post at the Vita Dining Table she handed out informational brochures and graciously accepted donations from the guests in attendance. Suzanne Schultz held a raffle for a $100 gift certificate to the hot new restaurant, La Voile, over on Newbury St. Canvas Gallery has been a partner in our alternative gallery space program, and we look forward to continuing our association with Suzanne and her gallery.

Thanks to everyone who came out and supported The Walden Woods Project. To see some pics of the artwork of Lynn Avery and Linda Hoffman as it appears in the Boston Showroom, click on these thumbnails:

President Bush and Pope Benedict XVI sit side-by-side in Moser chairs

2008-04-16T22:15:00.009-04:00

Thos. Moser was honored today when two Harpswell Arm Chairs with Back in Walnut were chosen as the ceremonial seating for President Bush and Pope Benedict XVI during the official welcome ceremony held on the South Lawn of the White House. Tom Moser and his sons David, Andy and Aaron attend the ceremony as invited guests.

The order came about when a senior White House official visited our Washington, DC showroom on 3-25-08. He knew of us by reputation and a reference from a friend. He stated that they came to us because of their desire for the chairs to be American made and of highest quality and construction.

The chairs will reside in the White House until the end of the Bush administration. Our understanding is that they will eventually be sent to the George W. Bush Presidential Library (location to be determined) for public display.

Here are some photos of the chairs and the ceremony:

The Edo Rocker, designed by a new dad

2008-04-16T08:00:00.001-04:00

Apparantly the bloggers at daddytypes.com know good design and fine craftsmanship when they see it. Check out this post about the new Edo Rocker by David Moser...

http://daddytypes.com/2008/04/16/new_daddesigned_edo_rocker_at_thos_moser.php

LA Showroom opens in grand fashion

2008-04-10T17:04:00.022-04:00

On March 8 & 9 we held the Grand Opening of newest showroom in LA and by all accounts it was a huge success. The weekend was kicked-off with an open house featuring new pieces, design previews, book signings with Tom Moser, and chair-making demonstrations by a master craftsman. Over 300 customers and friends came by on Saturday night to raise a glass with us, and on Sunday we concluded the festivities with a talk called “A Celebration of Craft” with iconic furniture designers/builders Tom Moserand Sam Maloof, master craftsman Jim Ipekjian, and Cerritos College woodworking professor Anthony Fortner. We were humbled (and a bit overwhelmed at first!) when over 700 people RSVP'd for the Sunday presentations.

The LA showroom is the largest one we’ve opened so far (4,000 square feet), and we used the space to create whole ‘rooms within rooms’ to make it easier for customers to envision living with our designs in their own homes. And through mid-summer we're featuring a whole host of Maine artists throughout the space.

We'll publish photos and more details about this beautiful new showroom and the Grand Opening festivities in our summer newsletter, which will be mailed out in June. In the meantime, click here to take a brief photo tour of the showroom (pdf).

From hands to heart...an example of how a piece of furniture can be a vessel of meaning

2008-04-06T16:27:00.005-04:00

One of the cabinetmakers in our shop, David Mabany, has his family roots in Chicago. His sister Carol still lives there and is a writer with the Chicago Tribune. A while back, David and Carol decided it would great to celebrate the end of a lengthly home rennovation by Carol and her husband by having David build them a Windsor-style Continuous Arm Bench. Carol's husband had "yearned for this bench" for quite some time.

The results of the project reinforced a family bond and turned a former Chicago city boy into a true-blue Maine-iac. Both David and Carol wrote about the experience for the Tribune, and their articles are very much worth reading...

Click below to read David's story about building a bench for his sister:
Bench marks of love: From a brother's hands ...

Click below to read Carol's story about "a bench that, at once, is a living, breathing 24-spindled story":
Bench marks of love: To a sister's heart and home

Thanks to David and Carol for sharing this wonderful story!

A "sneak peak" at our Boston Showroom

2008-03-27T11:55:00.003-04:00

A blog called The Maple Board came to our attention today...seems as though the author was sneaking around our Boston Showroom with his "stealth" camera. We only wish he had stopped and said hello to one our showroom folks, we always like to meet people who appreciate our work!

Here are a few of the pics that this blogger took...

We love bloggers, especially those that love us! So next time you are in one of our stores please feel free to say hello and let us know what you're up to, we won't bite and we'll be happy to either help or just get out of your way.

Edo Trestle Table gets some more attention

2008-03-08T19:00:00.001-05:00

Last summer David Moser won gold at the Spark Awards for his Edo Trestle Table. Well, in the true spirit of "blogs can be about anything", this particular blogger has compiled a blog about awarded or nomineed products from various design awards and competitions. Since the Edo Trestle Table was award a gold at the Sparks, she included it in her blog (click on the image to go to our entry her blog)...

Shown above in Walnut, the Edo Trestle Table has quickly become one of our most popular dining tables.

Design Hole features David Moser as Designer of the Week

2008-02-27T23:23:00.003-05:00

Jennifer Mitchell is a designer based in Detroit. Her blog Design Hole is one of our favorites. Not only does she get bonus points for blogging about Moser numerous times, but her overall sense for design is right on target. We reccomend you add her blog as one of your regular stops on the web...here are some links to her entires about Thos. Moser:

Febaury 27, 2008 - Chair of the Day: Edo Rocker
February 12, 2008 - Design Dilema: Kitchen Update
January 4, 2008 - Chair of the Day: Thos. Moser's Eastward Chair
December 11, 2007 - Design Tip Tuesday: A Guest Room & Pajama Bar
November 16, 2007 - New Line from Thos. Moser
October 2, 2007 - Design Tip Tuesday: Mixing Cultures
Sept 6, 2007 - Designer of the Week: David Moser
August 29, 2007 - Chair of the Day: Edo Studio Chair
July 7, 2007 - Chair of the Day: Edo Bench

Art & Design for Life, by Katy Elliot

2008-02-22T11:46:00.002-05:00

Katy Elliot is a blogger who has this to say about us:

I've been in love with [Moser] furniture since I was kid. The cherry dining tables are beyond gorgeous. The color and luster are stunning—sanded so smooth you won't be able to stop running your hands over the tabletop. The images don't do justice to the quality of the workmanship in each and every piece. When you buy a piece from Thomas Moser your buying an heirloom that will be passed down for generations.

And she knows what she is talking about....Katy was at House & Garden magazine for a few years and now does freelance web editorial and production over at Domino magazine. She uses her blog as place to organize all the things she finds along the way.

Thanks for the kinds words, Katy!

The Artful Blogger (Portland, Maine)

2008-02-12T23:43:00.005-05:00

Fletcher shows in the other L.A.

From the surprisingly big-time department, Maine figurative artist Tanya Fletcher will show her work in March in the new Los Angeles showroom of Maine-based furniture-maker Thos. Moser, opening in March.

When she got word that she was selected to show in Thos. Moser’s L.A., Fletcher thought that meant Lewiston-Auburn.

She focuses her work on the human form, and in particular details of the body – a hand, the lips or neckline. In current work, she emphasizes the hands as they are engaged in furniture making.
“My hope is that the figurative movement of the hands illustrates and encompasses the totality of the actual individual in the act of crafting a piece,” she said in an e-mail.

To learn more, visit http://tanyafletcher.com/ or http://www.thosmoser.com/.

Design*Sponge Rocker Roundup

2008-01-22T16:14:00.001-05:00

Design*Sponge did a "Rocking Chair Roundup" and among the many rockers they chose to profile were two from Moser.

Here's a blurb of what they had to say...

What better way to spend a lazy weekend than rocking away on your porch. ok, so maybe most of us don’t have porches to rock on, but we can at least rock in the comfort of our own apartments. here is a roundup of rocking chairs (and a few gliders) that range from modern to more traditional in a wide range of prices. enjoy! stay tuned for something to put your feet up on next.

For the rest of the story CLICK HERE

A designer's home explored

2007-12-10T12:11:00.003-05:00

The renovation and expansion of designer David Moser's home in Cundy's Harbor, Maine, was profiled this weekend in The Boston Globe Magazine by freelance writer Christie Matheson (photography by Eric Roth).

See all the photos at:
http://www.boston.com/realestate/gallery/designing_1209/

High Stools in NYC

2007-10-24T11:28:00.009-04:00

A home bar generally reflects the character of the owner. Whether you are a sports fan, wine lover, pool shark, art patron, or some combination, if you have a bar in your home chances it has taken on your personality, even if by "accident".

We found this link on one of our favorite blogs, apartmenttherapy.com in the New York section...

APARTMENT THERAPY BLOGS ON MOSER HIGH STOOLS

While this author was just looking to get some more wood into his bar area, our collection of stools ranges from sleek and modern to traditional and no matter what type of personality you give to your bar area, a set of Moser stools will help you make the right statement.

Some blogs have all the fun (and generate LOTS of traffic)

2007-09-01T12:36:00.003-04:00

For the last year or so, there is one blog in particular that seems to have captured the attention of bloggers and tech-geeks from Silicon Valley to the Big Apple. The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs is a humorous tech-inspired blog is not, in fact, penned by the Apple CEO (although Jobs anmd Bill Gates are said to be avid readers) and until recently the blogger's true identity remained a mystery.

For his entry on Aug 18, Fake Steve posted a rather off-hand reference (with a link) to Thos. Moser. The results were astounding. On the first day alone, over 1,500 clicked the link to our site. The next day another 1,000, and for the next few days after that the clicks just kept mounting up. To date this innocuous reference in a non-furniture-related blog is the single highest traffic generating link to our site yet. Ahhhh, the power of the internet. CLICK HERE to see the post that generated all this traffic to our site.

Alas, all good things must come to an end. Well, not really an end because there is little doubt that this infamous-turned-famous blog will carry on, so perhaps just the end of an era. At about the time the post with our link hit the blogosphere, Fake Steve was outed by NY Times reporter Brad Stone. The mystery was spoiled and reaction was immediate, but still the traffic just keeps on coming.

Uncrate.com features Moser

2007-08-20T09:28:00.001-04:00

We had never heard of Uncrate.com before they were kind enough to showcase our Vita Dresser.

Here is how they describe themselves:

Uncrate is the No. 1 buyer's guide for men. We test and highlight cool items from cell phones to DVDs to cars. Five new products are added every week day for your perusal.

Anway, we appreciate their support, here is a link:
http://uncrate.com/men/home/furniture/vita-horizontal-dresser/

Tom Moser interview on NPR radio show

2007-08-17T23:07:00.001-04:00

From Scratch is a weekly radio show about the entrepreneurial life that airs on NPR, and recently featured an interview with Tom Moser.

From Scratch personalizes the lives of the nation’s leading pioneers from the business world, the social sector, entertainment, and the arts by providing listeners with a candid, first-hand view of their launching process. Guests speak about their sources of inspiration, set backs, financial hurdles, partnership dynamics, feelings of self doubt, helpful allies, and break though moments.

Click here to listen to the interview with Tom.

The Happy Haven searches for Eden and finds...Moser.

2007-07-16T16:00:00.001-04:00

We came across this blog today...salt box girl had some very complimentary things to say about our furniture at her Happy Haven blog.

Many thanks to her cousin Matt (wherever you are!) for introducing her to us!

Moser designs win two Spark awards

2007-07-13T17:18:00.003-04:00

We are proud to announce that we have taken two prizes in the first annual Spark Awards, a multi-level design competition that recognizes new processes and technology and seeks to involve people and ideas from untapped sources.

In the Furniture and Outdoor category the Hawthorne Chair, founder and designer Tom Moser’s first new chair design since 2003, took a Silver Award, and Tom’s son David Moser won a Gold Award for his Edo Trestle Table. The awards were announced on June 9 at the Art Center College of Design’s Wind Tunnel Event Hall in Pasadena, California.

CLICK HERE to read more...

"Style Chicago" loves Moser!

2007-07-12T16:13:00.000-04:00

We'd like to say thanks to the folks at Style Chicago for calling our Chicago showroom one of their favorite places in Chciago!

Congrats to new Journeymen

2007-07-12T11:59:00.001-04:00

Our first four-year class of apprentices received their journeyman certificates at a special ceremony at our workshop on July 11. We are proud to be the first company in the state of Maine to institute a registered cabinetmaker apprenticeship program. Congrats to George Colby Jr. of New Gloucester, George Estabrook of Auburn, and Andrew Pinkham of Oxford, who nhave all been building furniture here for about the last decade.

Read all about it here in the Lewiston Sun-Journal.

When is a catalog more than a catalog?

2007-04-16T16:57:00.002-04:00

When it is the Moser catalog, of course!

Just ask the author of Mom's Purse: Beyond the Basic Necessities...

Thos.Moser is a must-have catalog. Its a work of art, and an awesome display of top-quality workmanship & design. Their website is not as visually pleasing, so order the free catalog. I hope to own a piece of Thos.Moser furniture someday.

We agree that it is harder to make pixels look as good as a printed catalog, and appreciate the endorsement!

Thos. Moser is HOT STUFF in San Francisco

2006-05-31T16:06:00.002-04:00

If you live in or have visited San Francisco, perhaps you've stopped in to our showroom on Sacramento Street. The floor shapce has recently been expanded, which is a good thing because the new Edo Collection is on the way and we expect it will be of particular interest to our customers in northern California.

Anyway, the San Fran Chronicle has a nice little write-up about the showroom and Edo today, including a few words from designer David Moser. CLICK HERE to read it.

Inside a Furniture Makers Home

2005-09-01T12:31:00.003-04:00

Washington Spaces magazine published an article about Tom's home on Dingley Island. This article, written by Stacey Chase, first appeared in the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine (looked for a link but can seem to find one) earlier this year. Here is an except:

So, how much wood furniture does a woodworker ultimately keep at home? Plenty, though not all of it his own. Moser estimates that only 30 percent of the furniture in his house was made by Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers, and even those are its misfits: leftovers from academic library projects, prototypes of designs that never went anywhere, or inventory that otherwise would have been shipped to the flagship Freeport, ME, showroom’s discount room due to slight defects.

To read the entire article:
http://www.washingtonspaces.com/2005/5/articles/inside-a-furniture-makers-home