Monthly Archives: August 2010
Oak in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth-Centuries
The Mighty English oak (Quercus robur) has been revered and romanticised since time immemorial; its reputation for strength, longevity and spreading shade are well deserved. While it was used in the production of provincial furniture[1] and for other domestic purposes, … Continue reading
Making a Reading Table – Part Nine
“What is that horrid looking thing in my good Pyrex dish?” Virginia shrieked. There’s still no development on the hinges yet, so I thought I’d pad out the table’s progress with an update on the triangle which has been merrily … Continue reading
Trading Memories
While writing the post Brassed Off!, I was reminded of an antiques dealer I worked for in my early career as a restorer in England. Occasionally I would have to cast up individual brasses to replace those missing on fine … Continue reading
Brassed Off!
In days gone by, when confronted with a missing bail on, say, a Georgian chest of drawers, an antiques dealer would have a rummage through his box of orphaned brasses. With a bit of luck he’d find something that resembled … Continue reading
Making a Reading Table – Part Eight
I once had a great little smithy at the back of my restoration workshops where I used to forge all my own catches, clasps, hinges, locks and nails etc. I could whip up a replacement item in steel at the … Continue reading
Making a Reading Table – Part Seven
After the drawers were glued and assembled, the drawer fronts were veneered and cockbeaded with walnut. Cockbeading and drawer front. The front of the bottom boards are supported in grooves in the inside bottom of the drawer fronts while the … Continue reading
Making a Reading Table – Part Six
The reading slope is made up of a central panel floating within a mitred frame, joined at the corners with loose tenons. Once the slope has been cleaned up, I will work a simple moulding around the edge. The reading … Continue reading
Making a Reading Table – Part Five
A 1/2″ scotia moulding was stuck and applied round the top of the box carcase and a 1/4″ astragal was stuck and applied round its base. The completed box carcase. There are two approaches to dovetailing the legs to the … Continue reading
Pegs and 'Tails 