Monthly Archives: September 2012
Reproducing Some Chippendale Period Brasses
My happy association with fine British and Irish furniture over several decades has lead to some interesting finds and spoils through auctions and private dealings. A fortuitous encounter turned up a complete set of pristine, pure Chippendale handles (fig. 1). … Continue reading
Quote of the Week
From a well known North American furniture brassware manufacturer’s website… “Chippendale was not exclusively a colonial American style, and furniture makers across the Atlantic created pieces with this look.” Jack Plane
God save the King
On the 28th of September 1745, God Save the King (later adopted as the British national anthem) was sung for the first time at the Drury Lane Theatre in London. The anthem was composed by Thomas Augustine Arne (1710-1778) who … Continue reading
A Double Bow Windsor Chair – Part Four
When the crinoline bow had dried, I cut it to length, formed the tenons on its extremities, rounded it and bored the holes to accept the two stub stretchers. The stub stretchers were turned using the off-cuts from the crinoline … Continue reading
A Double Bow Windsor Chair – Part Three
I knocked together a steam box out of some 15mm thick exterior plywood and connected it to a steam supply for bending the various curved parts of this double bow chair. I made several formers for the assorted bows from … Continue reading
Samuel Johnson
“… English style, familiar but not coarse, and elegant but not ostentatious.” Samuel Johnson (1709 – 1784) was born this day in Lichfield in Staffordshire. Educated at Oxford, Johnson became a multi-faceted writer and lexicographer, publishing A Dictionary of the … Continue reading
A Double Bow Windsor Chair – Part Two
I haven’t previously attempted a copy of this particular variety of double bow chair, so I have to invent the necessary patterns for the seat, crinoline bow, back bow, arm bow and arm supports. I first drew a seat pattern … Continue reading
The Eleven Days
In 1752 the 3rd of September suddenly became the 14th when the British Empire rejected the Julian calendar and adopted the Gregorian calendar. Jack Plane
Buddy, can you spare me a dime?
For the North American contingent: If you live in, or happen to be in New York on the 24th of September 2012, you may be interested in popping into Christie’s upcoming sale of Important American Furniture, Folk Art and Decorative … Continue reading
A Double Bow Windsor Chair – Part One
I made my last Windsor chair primarily because I admired that particular regional style, but also because it didn’t comprise any steam-bent components. At the time I made the comb-back chair I no longer possessed the requisite steaming equipage and … Continue reading
Pegs and 'Tails 