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Author Archives: Jack Plane
A Pair of George II Irish Walnut Side Chairs – Part One
In the late 1980s I restored four elegant mid-eighteenth-century Irish ‘red’ walnut side chairs with stuffover seats. If I did take any photos of them, I can’t locate them now; however, I did take the time to make patterns of … Continue reading
Picture This CXXVII
This is yet another example of case furniture from The Age of Walnut that employs largely unfashionable or anomalous domestic timbers in its construction. Unlike the sophisticated George II elm cabinet-on-chest in Picture This XC, this chest (figure 1), though fashionable … Continue reading
Nice Work! II
I don’t often despair of much (and it may just be because I’m in a fair bit of pain at the moment) however, the atrocities inflicted on, and written about this walnut chest of drawers give me little confidence in … Continue reading
Picture This CXXVI
Whilst having my weekly look around, this pretty little table caught my eye. It’s described as George II, walnut, with original handles, circa 1750. Fig. 1. A nice quality table with lappets on its knees. Fig. 2. En suite handles … Continue reading
Picture This CXXV
I have previously mentioned (here, here and here) how some early case furniture – for various reasons – gained bracket feet later in life. Conversely, upper chests from walnut chest-on-chests and less commonly, chest-on-stands, as late as 1750 occasionally gained/regained … Continue reading
The Cabinet-Maker’s Tree
Before the introduction of mahogany, the walnut was “the cabinet-maker’s tree” in England, and it was well adapted for the purpose, — being tough and strong in proportion to its weight, beautifully variegated, admitting of a fine polish, durable, and … Continue reading
Three Species of Mahogany
There are three species of mahogany: — Common mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni), Swietenia febrifuga, and Swietenia chloroxylon: the first being a native of the West India Islands and the central parts of America, and the second and third natives of the … Continue reading
Posted in Furniture Timbers
Tagged mahogany, Swietenia chloroxylon, Swietenia febrifuga, Swietenia mahagoni
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Exhibition | The Genius of Grinling Gibbons
Now on view at Fairfax House: The Genius of Grinling Gibbons: From Journeyman to King’s Carver Fairfax House, York, 14 April – 14 September 2018 Grinling Gibbons, King David Panel, ca. 1670, boxwood (York: Fairfax House). Fairfax House is delighted … Continue reading
Backs to the Walls!
One frequently hears dealers – or reads authors – waxing lyrical about a cabinet or chest of drawers; its proportions, the figure of the wood, the mouldings, the finish etc., but seldom does one hear or read much, if anything, … Continue reading
