California Monterey Cypress – Live Edge / Bookfold

This striking Coastal Cypress breakfast table is a true work of functional art, crafted from matching “sister” or “bookfold” halves of a California Monterey Cypress (Hesperocyparis macrocarpa) tree. Native to the windswept Monterey Peninsula, these cypress have long been a fixture of historic coastal ranches, planted as both windbreaks and ornamental trees.

The Cypress tree was harvested shortly after the October 2021, Alisal Fire near Santa Barbara and later discovered by the artist in 2023. From this fire-scarred timber emerged a tabletop that woodworkers dream of—a dramatic live-edge bookfold design. The finished piece, weighing 164 lbs with its 1968 wrought iron base, carries within it both the resilience of nature and the hand of the craftsman.

Seven 3/8" steel dowels keep the halves in perfect alignment, while two coats of tung oil highlight the Cypress’s wild, knotted grain. Delicate copper accents, repurposed from the guttering of a restored Sonoma mansion, add quiet flashes of character.

Measuring 6’ x 4’ and standing 30” tall, the table travels in two parts, but its scale and heft demand skilled handling. More than a breakfast table, it is a testament to survival, history, and artistry—transforming reclaimed, fire-marked wood into a lasting heirloom.