Phillip Bauer, alias Phil Farmer, designs and produces quotidian objects which are based on an experimental and material-oriented design approach under his label Farmer Recycling Products (F.R.P.). F.R.P. works with a network of artists, craftsmen and designers who see the “experiment” as a cross-genre happening.

Phillip Bauer, who describes himself as a spontaneous inventor, loves to deal with the different types of materials that other people heedlessly throw away. In addition to many small minimal solutions for everyday needs, he came up with the Derk, a table trestle which was inspired by slatted frames left on the side of the road. The thing that is special about “slat frame slats” is that they are made of so-called laminated wood in which the individual veneers are not glued with each layer turned 90 degrees but rather are glued strictly parallel. Because of this, the laminated wood panels are extremely strong in the direction with the grain, an important condition for the special construction of Derk. Structurally, this table trestle consists of two parallel beams which clamp the tops of the two sets of legs together by means of 4 removable screws – the legs are then pulled apart under tension and held in that position with a crossbar that is fitted between the stretched legs. It is this feature which provides the Derk with its unmistakable appearance and its stability. We consider the Derk to be an aesthetically pleasing and sturdy alternative to conventional table horses.

The table trestle Derk is delivered in a preassembled condition and can be put together in a few minutes. No further tools are necessary for the final assembly. When used in combination with one of our table tops (e.g. Table top, Melamine resin coated) in the 30 mm thickness version, an excellent writing table height of 740 mm is achieved. The trestles cannot be adjusted for height. The rubber rings that are supplied can be pulled over the cross-beams to serve as a non-slip support for a table top.