Oxalino

Maximally decorative.

Anchored in geometry.

Every piece of OXALINO furniture tells its own story. Each form is transformed into a canvas, its surface—top, bottom, front, and back—entirely hand painted in a gesture that is both methodical and expressive. Using an oxidizing solution on tannin-rich wood, the artist coaxes a chemical reaction that transforms every brushstroke into a living pattern. Slowly, line by line, the surface becomes enveloped in a rhythm of marks until the piece is wholly adorned.

The ritual concludes with a veil of whitened oil, a finish that draws out the natural grain and reveals a delicate moiré effect, as if light itself were woven into the wood. What remains is more than furniture: it is sculpture, surface, and story intertwined—high design where craft, chemistry, and imagination merge.

Oxalino: An Evolving Journey in Pattern and Form

The Oxalino patterning began in 2020 as a meticulous spiral decoration, always hand-painted on tubular shapes. This initial phase was all about precision and consistency, ensuring each piece featured that signature spiral on its curved surfaces.

By 2022, Oxalino had moved into a new phase, exploring historical decorative patterns drawn from different eras and cultures. We introduced designs like the peacock feather table and experimented with ornamental trims and repeating motifs. Many of these patterns are still in the sketchbook stage, awaiting their debut on future commissioned pieces.

In 2025, we're introducing what we’re tentatively calling the "Hurricane" pattern— a geometric style that uses negative space to convey a sense of movement. This new pattern can be combined with the original spiral design, depending on the piece’s form and placement.

The Evolution

  • Each piece within this collection leverages the studio's ‘tubular design language’ of cylinders, spheres and rounded proportions, using solid wood joinery and traditional techniques for posterity. 

    While the hand painted patterning is esoteric and irregular, the woodwork pays homage to traditional craft forms. We have added the patterning method of hand painted oxidized finish to culminate in a collection with a unique decorative design language.

    The combination of traditional woodwork and unique decorative process creates furniture fit for collection.

    The Hamilton Holmes studio is founded on the concept of pairing culturally relevant and classic pieces with trusted woodworking techniques. This ensures that future generations will have beautiful furniture that is built to last. 

    INCLUDING…

    Captain’s Side Table, a special edition of the Captain’s Side Table

    Captains Coffee Table, a special edition of the Captain’s Coffee Table

    Thing #1 and Thing #2, One of a Kind unique piece

    Offering Bowl, One of a Kind unique piece

    Wave Shelving, a special edition of the Wave Shelving

    Ring Mirror, A Special edition of the Ring Mirror

    Desert Chair V1, A special edition of the Desert Chair V1

    Exhibited with Sight Unseen and Lovehouse NYC

  • The 2022 Peacock Table presents a piece of  Collectible Design featuring the ‘OXALINO’ technique applied to all surfaces of the furniture. This patterning enhances the physical forms and creates a mesmerizing visual experience. The line-work is a combination of classical forms and rhythms, mixed with Hamilton Holmes’ own expressive designs.

    The new Peacock Table evolves the technique to include more developed patterns inspired by the history of ornament.

    The artist’s research included a review of the physical ornamentation of different cultures and periods from the ancient Aztecs, to the Byzantine Empire. Holmes then recreated the patterns in his own way and transformed them into a meta-pattern based in pure geometry.

    'OXALINO Peacock Table' Inspirations include--the history of ornament, natural forms, old tattoos, painted furniture, the practise of meditation, geometry and harmony.

    INCLUDING…

    The Peacock Table, a special edition of the Lakeside Table

    Exhibited at Salon Gallery

  • This year saw multiple pieces exhibited in different galleries and exploring new patterns and old patterns alike. 

    ICFF 2025

    The reimagined Desert Chair V3 was painted with the original spiral patterning applied to the whole surface of the chairs. 

    The new studio Milking Stools were painted with a progressive ‘Hurricane’ Pattern 

    LOVEHOUSE NYC–The Family show

    The FAT COWBOY table was painted in a evolved peacock feather pattern with a rose motif medallion in it’s centre

    COLLECTIVE NYC – DUDD HAUS Presentation

    The 42” Captain’s Table was painted in the new hurricane pattern 

The Inspirations

Classical Forms

It is a great pleasure to look back and then push forward— to take a traditional form and twist it using our own design language. Always paying respect to the work that brought us here and honouring those choices as we add to the canon of classic furniture forms.

Meditation

Steady heart, steady breath and steady hand are the main tools required to apply our OXALINO finish to each piece. The work is done entirely without guides and demands hours of focus to wrap itself continuously around each limb of furniture. The process produces a hum of concentration; a meditation. 

When seated and viewing the work, a similar meditative experience can be had. Attempt a steady breath while following the subtle individuality of one single line of OXALINO finish. Viewing the hand of the painter, the choices and mistakes made, you can appreciate the care and consideration of each item.

Old Tattoos

The way the dye bleeds in some sections of the OXALINO finish creates irregular patterns, like line work of an old tattoo. As the world of design and production becomes increasingly streamlined via automation, we gravitate towards organic patterns and irregularities. These irregularities express a central component of our humanity and the value of human hands working. Old rudimentary prison tattoos appeal to this sentiment. They confidently declare what they are and embrace the history of their creation. 

Primitive Detailing

Using an oxidizing solution is a time-tested technique and can be done a thousand different ways. What may have been previously lost or forgotten, is newly appreciated with simple tools and techniques that rely on the high fidelity of the painter to make the impression. OXALINO is clear and to the point—no post modern software, no industrial technique—just a steady hand and some vinegar.

Folk Traditions

Hand-painting is a way to embellish furniture and reinvent it for the user. Historically, folk artists as well as common people have taken a brush to their furniture to add personal value and creative expression. It is this spirit of freedom and the desire to embellish that OXALINO exhibits so wholeheartedly. 

Unique Colour Ways– Exploration

INDIGO HAZE

During finish experiments with the OXALINO lines, the final blue and white finish appealed in a nostalgic sense of rural heritage—the old spoon, the hand finished cabinet door, the hand worn newel post—all authentic and modest items. 

The use of solid wood allows for the organic connection that ‘country living’ gives to an interior. White oak is a course grained wood and when the oil is applied, the grain pops out in a celebration of natural texture.


WALNUT/ BLACK

We want to make new colour ways– open to collaboration.