Armchair. Made in Philadelphia c. 1755. Black walnut, hard pine. As mentioned in my post about January's Americana Week, another armchair from the only known set of Philadelphia compassed armchairs was in Christie's sale as lot 563. The loose seat is a modern reproduction. The front seat rim and one knee return are replaced. There … Continue reading ANOTHER VENERATED ARMCHAIR
Joinery
A Double Chest of Drawers
A chest on chest, or double chest of drawers, made in Philadelphia c.1750 will be at auction at Freeman’s | Hindman, November 19, 2024. It presents a notable and perhaps unique decorative device – the tympanum board on either side and above the carved shell drawer is reduced in thickness from behind. A pierced design … Continue reading A Double Chest of Drawers
A Chest on Stand
Chest of drawers on stand. Delaware River Valley, possibly Philadelphia c. 1715. Black walnut, hard pine, Atlantic white cedar, brass, iron. The legs and stretchers of the stand are replaced. Wood caps at the corners and cock beading that would have been nailed to arch cutouts in the bottom rail are missing. Brass pulls and … Continue reading A Chest on Stand
Furniture at Stenton
Stenton, Philadelphia, Penn. Completed 1730. The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania opened Stenton as a house museum in 1900. They have led the stewardship and preservation of Stenton for 124 years. Over the past month I have been engaged in a furniture photography project at Stenton, the … Continue reading Furniture at Stenton
Fore-Plane Marks
Unlike painting, furniture making is a reductive practice. The marks on every surface are only those of the last tool used. On show surfaces of pre-industrial furniture, you are typically looking at marks left by a try plane, smoothing plane, or scraper. There is no way we can peer into the past and know what … Continue reading Fore-Plane Marks
In Proportion to the Trouble 