It's a homage to Grace Jones, rather than a portrait. Actually, it's a compendium of the 80s stuff I grew up with: Joan Collins's padded shoulders in Dallas, Talking Heads' outsize suits, and maybe even a slight nod to the short-lived design trend, Memphis.

The main framework is Wenge, also known as panga-panga or partridgewood (there are slight differences, but let's not get academic with Latin botanical names). The seat is Hickory, a left-over from another project. And the other bits are Ash.

I only use traditional woodworking methods like mortise-and-tenon joints, and mostly hand tools. I also only do any piece once; I'd die of boredom making several of the same thing. The process is probably more interesting than the final product; I usually give my work to a friend's second-hand store to get rid of.

Here's another little detail on the seat. The old craftsmen and restorers often used these butterflies to stop wood splitting. You'll see a lot of it on George Nakashima's work.

And a hidden detail (there's a certain enjoyment in knowing nobody will ever see it, like a Japanese kimono that should be worn with the embroidery on the inside, against the skin). I thought this a fairly unusual joint that I designed - two pieces slide either side into a dovetailed dado - but I believe Ikea used something similar on one of their ranges. 

The end result of the joint above. So, though it wasn't as neatly cut as it should be, there comes a time when perfectionism has to be put aside. Thanks for looking.