Author Archives: Jack Plane

About Jack Plane

Formerly from the UK, Jack is a retired antiques dealer and self-taught woodworker, now living in Australia.

The Good Oil

Posted on 7th December 2019

A friend dropped in to see me this week with a horrific story of near disaster. She had been carrying out some maintenance around the home and had given her wooden veranda its annual oiling. One morning, before the breeze … Continue reading →

Posted in Distractions | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Picture This CXXXIX

Posted on 12th November 2019

I previously mentioned Hepplewhite’s (circa 1787) design for full extension wooden drawer slides. Tomorrow, November the 13th, Christies are auctioning a circa 1765 dressing commode with full extension wooden drawer slides in their London rooms. The commode, lot 217, is … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiques, Auction Alerts | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Picture This CXXXVIII Redux

Posted on 19th September 2019

The Bristol blue-dash charger, lot 153 featured in Picture This CXXXVIII realised £2,200 (AUD $4.043, USD $2,745)) against a pre-auction estimate of £800 – £1200 (AUD $1,475 -$2,205, USD $998 – $1,497). Lot 153. (Woolley and Wallis) Jack Plane

Posted in Auction Alerts, ceramics | Tagged | Leave a comment

Now we are Ten

Posted on 14th September 2019

Ten years ago today – and feeling somewhat despondent – I began writing this blog. It has since elevated my spirits and the combination of making furniture and writing about it continues as one of my favourite pastimes. Today I … Continue reading →

Posted in Distractions | Tagged | 16 Comments

Picture This CXXXVIII

Posted on 10th September 2019

I first mentioned a Bristol blue-dash delft charger that I own in this post and in the comments following this post. As it happens, Woolley and Wallis are conducting The Warner Collection of British Delftware auction at their rooms in … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiques, Auction Alerts, ceramics | Tagged | 1 Comment

Picture This CXXXVI

Posted on 3rd September 2019

I previously mentioned the differences between plain cut-in and worked-up shelf supports for bookcases etc. The image below is a good example of simple cut-in supports. Oak bookcase, circa 1760. Jack Plane

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Picture This CXXXVI

Posted on 9th August 2019

Further to the walnut secretaire chest-on-chest in Picture This CXXX, this secretaire chest-on-chest recently caught my eye. Fig. 1. George II oak secretaire chest-on-chest, circa 1750. I previously mentioned early secretaire drawer fronts were commonly secured with simple iron hooks … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiques, Picture This | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Picture This CXXXV

Posted on 5th August 2019

Here’s another one for the sleuths: This is described as a “quality solid mahogany dressing table, circa 1770”. Can I have your opinions please? Jack Plane

Posted in Antiques, Picture This | Tagged | 10 Comments

Picture This CXXXIV

Posted on 2nd August 2019

This table is described by its vendor as a “late 18th century Queen Anne walnut lowboy”. Would the sleuths please set the record straight?   Jack Plane

Posted in Antiques, Picture This | Tagged | 20 Comments

Picture This CXXXIII

Posted on 18th July 2019

I previously mentioned chair-back settees and how they can, with a modicum of forethought, be effectively created from extant side chairs. The settee in figure 1 is one such conversion. Fig. 1. Utterly convincing transformation of three circa 1760 oak … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiques | Tagged , , | 12 Comments