The Quartersawn Oak Company was founded by Austin Neves and remains proudly family run to this day.

Austin is a traditionally trained cabinet maker who served his apprenticeship in the South East of England during the 1980s, honing his craft with respected furniture makers including Norfolk Furniture Company, Dixons and Titchmarsh & Goodwin. These early years instilled in him a deep appreciation for hard work, craftsmanship, timber selection and the enduring quality of furniture made to last generations.

Inspired by this traditional approach, Austin invested in a sawmill and began producing his own quarter sawn oak, carefully selecting and milling timber to the same exacting standards that had inspired him.

 

In the early 1990s, Austin returned north to his family home, spending weekends building the workshop that remains the heart of the business today. From these modest beginnings grew a reputation for producing fine furniture, architectural joinery and carrying out the sensitive restoration of important antique pieces. Along side teaching adult education evening classes in City and Guilds furniture making at a local secondary school- over the years to hundreds of students- producing some exquisite work over the years and meeting some interesting and enthusiastic people.

It was during the restoration of the magnificent banqueting table at Bramall Hall—designed by Augustus Pugin—that Austin made a discovery that would shape the future of the company. Every component of the table, including the concealed sliding mechanisms, had been made from quarter sawn oak. The reasoning was simple yet ingenious: quarter sawn timber provides exceptional stability, strength and beauty, qualities essential in furniture designed to stand the test of time.

In 2010, another important decision was made—to make this exceptional timber available to fellow craftsmen, designers and homeowners. And so, The Quartersawn Oak Company was born.

Dan joined the workshop in 2011, from Secondary school beginnings of a general construction Btec course and evening classes in level 1 joinery (not taught by Austin for the first time). Through City and Guilds bench joinery courses at Chesterfield College, still taught by retired time served tradesmen. While at Chesterfield college, Dan organised work experience alongside Austin in the workshop, and it all went from there. Soon he began taking on furniture and joinery commissions and honing his skills under Austin’s watchful eye. All while gaining experience in the various projects coming through the workshop as well as milling, seasoning, selecting and preparing timber. In the mean time Dan was becoming increasingly involved in the day to day running of The Quarter Sawn Oak company.

Today, Austin and Dan continue to personally select, cut and prepare every board that leaves the yard. Alongside producing premium quarter sawn oak, they also undertake bespoke joinery and cabinetry projects from the workshop where it all began. Combining traditional skills with generations of experience, they remain committed to supplying timber and craftsmanship of the very highest quality.