What-Am-I Meditation Bench
£60.00
Now then, there is the What Am I If I Am Not My Body? Meditation Bench. Handmade and painted no less. A Wonky Zen bench and no mistake. Such a strong and helpful question. Discovered in the woods on the side of Fell Foot, near lake Windermere. In a big canvas tent. With 47 Shamans and a Zen teacher. A big surprise to find such teachings amidst the trees and fresh they were. Blending intention with serendipity the bench started to evolve into something that reflected the light like Japanese furniture. But not so fine. Delicate hand painting revealed a piece that might even be a little beautiful under the brush. Wonders, literally, will never cease.
Details
Postage and packaging
Delivery details | £15.00 UK | £20.00 Overseas.
About the maker
Gavin Birchall started working with furniture in Summer 2025. He has studied and worked as a pharmacist, entrepreneur, company builder, designer, web developer, marketer, photographer, writer, meditation guide and personal coach. He lives with his wife and teenage children in Preston, England.
Details
Name: What Am I If I Am Not My Body? Meditation Bench.
Built and painted: Summer 2026.
Editions: 1 hand made and hand painted meditation bench. Grass not included but widely available.
Dimensions: H 17.5cm x W 42cm x D 14cm.
Weight: ~0.75kg.
Colour-way: High gloss black paint with multi-colour acrylic paint.
Process: A long time thinking about making meditation benches. Measuring the meditation benches I already had for size and shape. Designing the bench and devising the build. Visiting the DIY shop. Purchasing a plank of wood. Cutting and sanding the wood. Drilling, screwing and gluing the pieces of wood together. Sanding again. Filling the screw holes with wood filler. Sanding again. Noticing that despite best efforts the bench was wonky. Attempting to stop the bench being wonky by sanding the feet. Noticing that this was not effective. Accepting that this is a Wonky Zen Bench (my wife named it and it’s friends so). Realising that is a good thing. Painting the bench with black, exterior gloss. Allowing to dry. Painting again. Allowing to dry. I know I wanted blossom on this piece. It was reminding me of Japanese lacquerware. Designing the typography on my computer. Printing the typography to the appropriate size for the bench. Applying chalk to the back of the paper with the type on. Taping the paper onto the bench. Tracing around the edges of the type to transfer the chalk to the wood. Removing the paper and painting the type with an acrylic pen. Letting it dry. Leaning into the fear of hand painting something so delicate and beautiful and natural as blossom. Beginning. Seeing where the process went. Loving the contrast. Loving the look.