Monthly Archives: March 2015
“That’s all right!”
I had just finished dinner at a local hostelry the other night with my friend Haydn, when a young woman he knew spotted him and came across to join us. After the introductions, Haydn asked “So what have you been … Continue reading
Bonhams – The Scottish Sale
Bonhams are conducting The Scottish Sale in Edinburgh over the two days of the 15th and 16th of April, 2015. Amongst the furniture on offer is this Edinburgh-made George III mahogany bureau bookcase (lot 501), attributed to London-trained Francis Braidwood (1752-1827). … Continue reading
Die Kommode mit funf Schubladen
… As the non English-speaking George I would have called this five drawer chest – the third of five chests of drawers that I’m making for the up-coming book. This chest dates from around 1720 and employs Virginia walnut veneer … Continue reading
eBay and Sotheby’s play nicely together
Today, eBay and Sotheby’s jointly announced the launch of the Sotheby’s live auctions experience on eBay. Part of eBay’s new live auctions platform, ebay.com/sothebys is now available for browsing and advance bidding on Sotheby’s unique items leading up to the … Continue reading
Buckets begorrah!
This year I decided to mark Saint Patrick’s Day with a post celebrating some peculiarly Irish furniture. Ireland is a country that incites endless superlatives as the result of her lush scenery and vistas, culture, and – amongst many unique products … Continue reading
Chez Washington
Take a virtual tour of George Washington’s Mount Vernon mansion. Jack Plane
Picture This XLVI
I have a real soft spot for the oft comical and quirky mediaeval and post-mediaeval ecclesiastical carved roof bosses, corbels, misericords and pew ends that adorn England’s cathedrals and churches. The subject of the carving on the end of one … Continue reading
The Day one Man took a Deep Breath
This day marks the birth, in 1733, of Joseph Priestley, the man who discovered oxygen (prior to this, people presumably went about gasping like fish out of water). Joseph Priestly – equipped with the quintessential nose for oxygen-discovery. Oxygen is … Continue reading
Picture This XLV Redux
How wrong can one be? Following my (in my defence, not unreasonable – I thought) hypothesis regarding the function of the lopers in Elizabeth Carter’s bureau bookcase in Picture This XLV, I have received a communication from Celine Luppo McDaid, … Continue reading
Pegs and 'Tails 