BreathingJoinery™
Hardwood Joinery - Revitalizing a Disappearing Art
Maria Yee developed her BreathingJoinery™ system in order to revitalize the art of solid hardwood furniture joinery, where pieces are so precisely fitted together that nails and screws are not needed. Used by the Chinese for thousands of years, Maria’s challenge was to refine ancient joinery techniques to produce quality pieces in a modern manufacturing environment.
Wood's inherent properties cause it to "breathe" - to expand and contract in response to humidity. Expert craftsmen trained in Maria’s BreathingJoinery system take this into account, along with the grain direction of the joined parts, the surface of the mating areas and myriad other intricacies of the material while creating each piece.
These innovative techniques and classic craftsmanship not only allow Maria Yee furniture to be enjoyed all over the world regardless of varying climatic conditions, but the experience and judgment of the craftsman render each piece unique. This allows the company to adhere to its motto of "one customer, one unique piece at a time."
Bamboo Joinery - A 21st Century Innovation
Bamboo has different physical properties than hardwood. Therefore, Maria Yee further developed her BreathingJoinery™ system to handcraft furniture constructed out of her patented BambooTimbre™. Like her hardwood joinery, no nails and screws are used.
BreathingJoinery takes into account the unique fibers and evenly spaced joints - nodes, of the bamboo culms. BreathingJoinery also factors in the direction of the joined parts, the surface of the mating areas and other intricacies related to the material and techniques.
Maria Yee is the first creator of solid bamboo furniture in pure joinery. Due to BambooTimbre’s innate physical qualities and the innovative BreathingJoinery system, traditional hazards associated with bamboo furniture - such as warping, cracking, splitting, shrinking and rattling - are eliminated. The end product is harder than red oak, more resistant to scratches than many other materials and will last for generations.