Anniversary Tens

I was commissioned by Willmore Design some years ago to create a piece to celebrate the tenth anniversary of one of their clients — FIIG Securities.

FIIG is Australia’s leading fixed income specialist. They provide investors with direct access to bond markets and a range of term deposits. Charles at Willmore Design was keen for the piece to look solid and hold a feeling of gravitas. He was also keen that each element was self supporting. This presented a challenge as a standard numeral one includes a stroke angled to the left; and a zero is typically round in form. A standard one is likely to topple over. A zero is in danger of rolling away.

We worked together on this beginning with some hand drawn sketches. In particular we simplified the form of the one. For the wood, we chose American Walnut, also known as Black Walnut. It is prized for its rich, chocolate-brown heartwood and graceful grain that flows like smoke through its surface. It carries an understated elegance — dark, warm, and quietly luxurious. These were the qualities that Charles wanted to build into the design.

Unlike many hardwoods, American Walnut matures beautifully over time, mellowing to a deep, lustrous patina that reveals its character through age. The grain ranges from straight to lightly curled or wavy, often punctuated with occasional knots or streaks that only add to its appeal. Soft to the touch yet remarkably strong, it balances strength with workability — making it a favourite among fine furniture makers. American Walnut doesn’t shout. It speaks in low, confident tones — timeless, refined, and enduringly modern.

Each of the numerals was made from a single piece and suitably large — half a metre tall and a good 200 millimetres in depth. To provide stability, three kilogram lead diving weights were embedded within each numeral. The matte finish was created using several layers of fine Danish oil. The resulting 10s were suitably solid and sculptural!