Here we see a series of furniture realised by Israeli designer Hilla Shamia who refers to this innovative joinery method as wood casting. Pieces such as side tables, benches, stools and coffee tables have been created by pouring molten aluminium onto the rounded, bark side of square sawn timber.

The molten aluminium chars the area of the wood it comes into contact with darkening it and creating a stark contrast against this relatively light coloured metal. The charring also causes further splitting in the wood which the molten aluminium can penetrate in its liquid form and form a strong bond with as it solidifies.

The flat square sawn timber comprises the upper surfaces of the Wood Casting furniture range while the aluminium sections are cast into moulds above it which form elegant tapered legs. In these photos we can see the Wood Casting furniture being made. The production method for the pieces seems at first glance very quick and simple requiring no traditional joinery techniques such as chiseling.

Every Wood Casting item is of course unique due to the natural materials used and the minimal hands-on craftsmanship involved in their making. Each piece of timber has different splits running through it from the drying process, some of which run all the way through to the surface of the furniture, which makes the aluminium and it’s charring effect even more prominent in the finished product.

Hilla Shamia originally showed off her Wood Casting furniture at the Milan Design Week in 2012. It’s not clear whether any of the pieces created are still available to buy or any details of prices. However if you’re interested in purchasing any of her work she does list two physical shops – Entratalibera in Milan, Italy and ASUFA Design in Jaffa, Israel – which sell her designs on her website here.

If you enjoy the blending of wood and metal in this furniture, you might also be interested in the Abyss Table by Duffy which mixes wood with layers of glass to create a table that looks like a relief map of an ocean floor.