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Author Archives: Jack Plane
Picture This CXXX
This walnut secretaire chest-on-chest caught my eye recently; described by its vendor as circa 1740 and with original brasses. Fig. 1. Mid eighteenth-century walnut secretaire chest-on-chest… Fig. 2. … and with secretaire drawer open. Fig. 3. Interior of secretaire drawer. … Continue reading
Now You See Me… Now You Don’t
or, a potted history of dummy boards. First appearing in the seventeenth-century, dummy boards are painted (usually on wood) silhouettes of people and occasionally animals (figures 1 & 2). Fig. 1. Eighteenth-century painted pine dummy board depicting a woman of … Continue reading
Posted in Antiques
3 Comments
Ah Diddley Dee Potatoes!
To all Irishmen, particularly those in absentia… happy Saint Patrick’s Day. Jack Plane
Posted in Uncategorized
4 Comments
Picture This CXXIX
I came across yet another coffre fort recently. Like the previous examples, this late seventeenth-century walnut, iron and brassbound coffre would have kept money and other valuables safe whilst its owner travelled. By utilising a T-handled key (figure 1), two captive … Continue reading
Picture This CXXVIII
I previously mentioned privy furniture with interestingly shaped aprons. This oak Chippendale-style commode chair incorporates the familiar aprons along with a removable rush seat with which to access a ceramic potty. Fig. 1. George III oak commode chair, circa 1770. … Continue reading
Happy New Year
Cheers to everyone who took the time to read my posts over the past year, and a special thank you to those who commented on them. Wishing everyone happiness and prosperity in 2019. Jack Plane
Posted in Distractions
16 Comments
A Pair of George II Irish Walnut Side Chairs – Part Three
I completed the construction of the two chairs on Christmas day and had hoped to finish them this week; however it’s simply too damned hot. The walnut chairs in-the-white. When the weather cools from the current high 30s (US: stinking … Continue reading
Season’s Greetings
Whatever your persuasion and situation, I wish you all well during the festive season. Thomas Rowlandson, Christmas Gambols, circa 1812. Jack Plane
Posted in Distractions
8 Comments
“To a Walnut Dask”, Part II, The Writing Compartment.
Originally posted on In Proportion to the Trouble:
Writing compartment of the desk attributed to John Head. Made in Philadelphia, 1720-1740. Black walnut, hard pine, Atlantic white cedar, yellow poplar, brass, iron. Private collection. For a lack of other surviving…
Posted in Uncategorized
2 Comments
A Pair of George II Irish Walnut Side Chairs – Part Two
When making chairs of this ilk, I like to glue the entire backs together as separate assemblies. I then repeat the process with the front legs/seat rails and finally take the side seat rails and remaining stretchers and glue the … Continue reading
