The Golden Mean

Now thats cool.
Thanks

-- Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.

I have employed the golden mean in many ways for the past 2 decades. I believe this ratio permeates our lives. That said, have you made one of these golden ration calipers?

-- I hate being bipolar. It's awesome! :^ ) ^:

Looks like it works

-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Kentuk55@bellsouth.net

Any time something looks good the golden ratio is in there somehow.

-- Thor and Odin are the greatest of Gods.

The calipers are clever, but the calculator is easier and doesn’t have any length restrictions.

-- Clint Searl.............We deserve what we tolerate

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=57625&cat=1,43513

Great topic, the golden ratio rulers work best for me and the set is well worth the money.
Although, the computer generating one as no limit as mentioned by Clint and could come in handy.

Interesting. People that build live steam ride-on locomotives build to a ratio of 1:1.6. Thats pretty close to the golden mean. I wonder if there is a connection.

The “Golden Ratio” is but one of many log-periodic ratios in use. TV antennas (the old ones that got put on the roof) also are log-periodic. Mario Livio wrote a book about this, and I tend to agree with his assessment- “The Golden Ratio is a product of humanly invented geometry”. We are a product of our surroundings, having adapted to it to survive. I think that the mathematics made us, and we discover it as we learn more…maybe we “co-evolved”.

This number appears all over the place. It has this fun property:
G – 1/G = 1

You can try this in a calculator:
G = 1.6180339887498948482045868343656
1/G = 0.6180339887498948482045868343656

I think of the ratio like this. Divide a line segment into two pieces so that the ratio of the whole line to the larger piece is the same as the ratio of the larger piece to the smaller piece.

There is plenty of information online. Here is the Wikipedia entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio

-- "Too much hurry ruins the body. I'll sit easy … fan the spark" - I. Anderson

When talking about proportions can begin with known proven design standards like golden mean or rule. Those proportion do change when studying different periods and styles of furniture. Proportion ratio do change depending on piece of furniture too; end tables, entertainment centers, dining tables, and chairs for example.
Other design elements and principles of design cannot be overlooked if want to move your furniture into works of art.

Elements are the build blocks of design: color, line, shape or form, space, and texture.
Principles of design, which often overlap: Balance, proportion, rhythm, emphasis, and unity.

Of course, none of this is important if furniture fails function and aesthetics buyers want. Alternatively, if there is total lack of craftsmanship forget everything said here.

Love the piece shown by OP!

-- Bill

I have no and I mean no math background besides add, subtract, multipyl and divide. The a’s, b, and x’s mean nothing to me. If I had a box with a 12’’ long front what should the side be.?

-- Jerry

7.4”

-- I hate being bipolar. It's awesome! :^ ) ^:

I know this works for many folks but I trust my eye as to proper proportions . I guess we all do what works for us.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

Just as an FYI – Some people may not realize this.

If you have a golden rectangle and you draw a line across it that divides the rectangle into a square and what is left over, what is left over is also a golden rectangle, albeit smaller.

-- Rich, Cedar Rapids, IA - I'm a woodworker. I don't create beauty, I reveal it.

hmmm..ok maybe I will get flamed for this, but the golden mean is not always golden…the top row just does not work for me. I would have made 2 equal length drawers with a short one in the middle. There is just something strange about the progressive series on the top row.

On the piece itself the quality of your craftsmanship is flawless. Although I applaud the intention of not just copying the G&G style the doors for me are just too busy, too many accent plugs. And those hinges….For the next one I recommend you look at the Soss hidden hinges.

The choice of wood for the pulls as well as the face of the drawers takes away some of the beauty of your craftsmanship, the pulls are beautiful but they get lost on the face of the drawers. I would have used a contrasting wood with no figure so that the face of the drawers look more impressive.

As I stated, overall you clearly have the craftsmanship, but the devil is in the details and the piece is just too busy for me. Something the G&G brothers tried to avoid at all costs.

-- Just because you’ve always done it that way doesn’t mean it’s not incredibly stupid.