About

Sam told a reporter about business in the 1960’s, “I was offered 22 million dollars for the rights” to mass-produce his original designs. The offer was turned down. Maloof scholar Jeremy Adamson explains, "He was trying to make other people appreciate what it was like to live with a handcrafted object in which there was a kind of union between maker, object and owner."  To create Maloof furniture in a factory was not in keeping with the artistic philosophy: the most important tools a man has are his hands.

Knowing his only two hands could not keep up with demand and understanding the importance of mentoring men to carry on when he left this life, Sam hand selected three men, artists in their own right, to learn and develop trade secrets at his side. With decades in the workshop, the trio is fully prepared to seamlessly carry on in the master woodworker’s tradition.

In 1962 Sam opened a new chapter in his business when he hired his first paid employee, the multi-media artist Larry White. Still young, in 1969 Larry left Sam to teach in the UC System. Outside classroom hours, Larry opened his own independent art studio. Sam continued over the years to invite Larry to come back to work with him. It was tempting, but Larry reminded Sam, “it is a long commute from UC Santa Cruz to Southern California.”

Fate intervened when Larry’s wife opened a blown glass studio in Laguna Beach at about the same time Sam would be moving his home and business buildings to Alta Loma. Explains Larry, “When Sam hired me: he gave me my life. He opened a whole new world… Sam had never moved his shop. I’ve moved three times.” By going back with Sam, “I could give back to him. Life became a complete circle.”

Mike Johnson learned about Sam’s work while in junior high courtesy of an uncle who fed Mike’s woodworking curiosity with articles clipped from the local newspaper featuring Maloof. Prior to graduating from Cal State Long Beach with a degree in Industrial Arts, he was enthralled by Sam at a lecture.

The next time he saw Sam, Mike was a newlywed strolling with his bride through the mall at the same time as the Maloof’s. Encouraged to say hello, Mike chatted with his hero. On visiting Sam at the master’s workshop, Sam offered Mike an apprenticeship. It was a dream he would not have dared ask for. He accepted.

At 40, David Wade is the youngster of the boys. In high school, Sam’s granddaughter noticed David always had some wood project he was working on under his desk. She told him, “You have to meet my grandfather.” The two hit it off immediately. David joined Maloof straight out of high school in 1988.

“Sam encouraged me to continue my education.” David attended Fullerton Community College where he degreed in Wood, Millwork and Construction Technology. He continued his study at CSUF where earning his bachelor’s degree he brought the benefits of both a formal and hands-on training.

Business Manager Roz Bock is pleased that in this latest chapter where the work continues on without Sam’s physical presence, interest remains high. Common questions she fields include if value of pieces has risen and if there is any way to rush on order in the queue forward.

“Babies don’t wait,” remains our policy. The only way to get an order accelerated to 9 months is to order a crib for an expectant mother.