Commissions
Made for one person
A commission begins with a conversation and ends with an heirloom. Here is exactly what happens in between.
How a commission works
From a conversation to an heirloom
Five unhurried steps. The timeline is the craft itself: tell us the date you are aiming for and William will show you the earliest the piece can be ready.
The conversation
Tell William, or the concierge, who the piece is for, what they love and the budget you have in mind.
The design
William proposes the form, the material and the hardware, with drawings and samples of the actual wood where it matters.
The deposit
Half the agreed price reserves the work and the material. Nothing is cut until you have approved the design.
The making
Most pieces take about a month at the lathe and the bench. You can follow along by photo, video call or a livestream of your piece being turned.
The handover
Your piece arrives signed and presented with the story of its making, and the balance is settled on delivery.
With every piece
What arrives with it
- A signed and numbered certificate of authenticity
- The story of the piece: the material, where it came from and how it was made
- A presentation case chosen for the piece
- Care notes written for that material
- William's lifetime promise: if it ever fails, he will repair it or remake it in kind
Questions
Good questions, honest answers
How much does a commission cost?
It depends on the form, the material and the hardware, so William quotes every piece individually after your first conversation. Tell us the budget you have in mind and he will design to it.
How long does a piece take?
Most pieces take about a month at the lathe and the bench. Tell us the date you are aiming for and William will show you the earliest the piece can be ready.
How do I pay?
Half the agreed price reserves the work once you have approved the design, and the balance is settled on delivery. No payment is taken through this website.
Can I watch my piece being made?
Yes. You can follow along by photo, by video call, or by a livestream of your piece being turned.
What if something goes wrong with it years from now?
Contact William. Every DeVito piece is made to last a lifetime, and he will repair it or remake it in kind.
Can I bring my own wood?
Often, yes. Send a photo of the timber and where it came from, and William will tell you honestly what it can become.
The design concierge
A gallery that listens
Talk with the DeVito Gallery concierge, an AI that speaks in William's own voice. It asks the questions he would ask, then hands him your brief.
- Who the piece is for, and the moment it marks
- What they love: writing, cooking, the shave, the pipe, the craft
- The woods, colours and finishes you are drawn to
- The budget you have in mind, never a hard sell
You will see what it can and cannot do before the microphone turns on. Conversations are recorded so William can follow up.
Commissions
Begin a commission
Tell William who it is for, what they love, and what you have in mind. He reads every brief himself and replies personally.
Prefer to talk it through?