New York Times August 23, 1987

By Jeanie Puliston Fleming 

EXCERPT

“…Another of Costa Rica’s innovative woodworkers is Barry Biesanz, whose family moved to Costa Rica from Michigan when he was a teen-ager. In the last couple of decades he has established a reputation for finely crafted boxes and furniture made in his home-workshop in the San Jose suburb of Escazu. One of his trademarks is a smooth corner joint with a continuous wood-grain around the turn. Some of his box lids are decorated with Gauguinesque-like paintings by Ana Barrientes and Fernando Moya, local artists; others feature the rich colors and grains of the woods Mr. Biesanz prefers: rosewood, lignam vitae, amaranth and, when available, such others as tigerwood or satinwood.

His front and back gardens are piled with logs (many of them bought from trucks flagged down on the highways), aging and waiting to be turned or carved by the proprietor or one of the five artisans who work with him. In his sawdust-coated workshop, Mr. Biesanz stressed the importance of working with dried wood. Costa Rica is humid, and merely letting the wood sit a few weeks is generally not enough; cracks can develop in the finished product as the wood dries. Months or years outside, or weeks in a dehumidifying chamber, are recommended.

Mr. Biesanz’ furniture is one of a kind, and often by special order, though he usually has several pieces for sale at his studio. Fluidly designed chairs ($375 each) were recently on display, as was a dining table for six – its top made of a single piece of wood – ($850). The most popular items, besides small boxes ($20 to $50) and neatly turned bowls (from $20), are the compartmentalized jewelry boxes of rosewood ($200) with brass fittings and dovetail joints.

Most of Mr. Biesanz’ work is exported, either personally by tourists or diplomats, or by mail order. Customers come from the United States, France, West Germany, Japan (a large order of sushi bowls and chopsticks was just completed) and elsewhere. ”The Scandinavians have found us too; they come in and ask for ‘anything but teak,’ ” he said.

His works are on display in several locations in San Jose, including Costa Rican Expeditions, Calle Central and Avenida 3. For studio appointments, call 28-18-11, or write to Biesanz Woodworks, Apartado 47, Escazu, Costa Rica. “