The joiners who immigrated to the Delaware River Valley in the last quarter of the seventeenth and the first quarter of the eighteenth centuries, and the American-born joiners they trained, had a choice of timbers to use for secondary elements in their furniture. In Britain, the hardwood white oak (Quercus alba) and two softwoods, Red … Continue reading Secondary Wood Species, Part 1
Woodworking
“The Joiners say, that among the trees of this country they chiefly use the black walnut-trees…” Peter Kalm
“The Joiners say, that among the trees of this country they chiefly use the black walnut-trees, the wild cherry-trees, and the curled maple. Of the black walnut-trees (Juglans nigra) there is yet a sufficient quantity. However careless people take pains enough to destroy them, and some peasants even use them as fewel. The wood of … Continue reading “The Joiners say, that among the trees of this country they chiefly use the black walnut-trees…” Peter Kalm
Penn’s Woods
“The trees of most note are the black walnut, cedar, cypress, chestnut, poplar, gumwood, hickory, sassafras, ash, beech; and oak of divers sorts, as red, white, and black, Spanish, chestnut, and swamp, the most durable of all; of all which there is plenty for the use of man.” Letter from William Penn, Proprietary and Governor … Continue reading Penn’s Woods
“All Right Everyone, Line Up Alphabetically According To Your Height.” Casey Stengel
Before I address the preferences, habits, and construction attributes of the shop that produced the Wistar family high chest and dressing table I will attempt to clear up some confusion concerning several issues relating to the appearance and materials of the pair that have puzzled previous historians. In Philadelphia Cabinetmaking and Commerce, 1718-1753: The Account … Continue reading “All Right Everyone, Line Up Alphabetically According To Your Height.” Casey Stengel
Chest of Drawers at Sotheby’s
The chest of drawers attributed here, but not by the auction house, to the Philadelphia joiner John Head sold at Sotheby's this past Thursday. The hammer price was $26,000. With the "buyers premium" now at 25 percent, the total price was $32,000. This was more than 2 and a half times the high estimate but … Continue reading Chest of Drawers at Sotheby’s
In Proportion to the Trouble 