Monthly Archives: November 2010
A pair of George II Walnut Girandoles – Part One
Girandole is one name given to a free-hanging branched candleholder, but more commonly refers to a wall-hung looking-glass with one or more candle branches. Fig. 1. George II Walnut girandole with brass candle branches, circa 1750. The light from a … Continue reading
A William and Mary Walnut Chest of Drawers – Part Eight
Prior to applying the stain and finish, the whole chest was washed over with hot soapy water to remove any fingerprints and remnants of glue. The finish itself was built up over a period of days to allow it to … Continue reading
A Little ‘Alchemy’
Cabinet fittings were an expensive commodity in the seventeenth-century: Iron handles were individually fashioned by blacksmiths, whitesmiths and specialist hardware makers. The last quarter of the seventeenth-century saw the introduction of expensive sand-cast brass fittings, meaning multiples of practically identical … Continue reading
A William and Mary Walnut Chest of Drawers – Part Seven
Using a cutting gauge, the veneer on the drawer fronts was trimmed back to create the lands for the ash crossbanding. The waste veneer slit and ready for removal. Note the holes left by the veneer pins. The ash banding … Continue reading
A William and Mary Walnut Chest of Drawers – Part Six
Drawers at this point in time were constructed with coarse, through dovetails which, on the fronts, were hidden by thick veneer. The top edges of the drawer sides at this date were square and fractionally lower in height than the … Continue reading
Pegs and 'Tails 