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Author Archives: Jack Plane
Picture This CXXXII
This chest-on-chest was made at a time when mahogany’s adoption was virtually universal and walnut’s quondam reign was all but over. Fig. 1. George II walnut chest-on-chest, circa 1750. The rather tardy use of walnut is not the only behindhand … Continue reading
The Old Irish Tree List
In pre-Christian Irish society, brehons or judges laid down the law. This early body of law is now recognised as probably the oldest known European example of a sophisticated legal system. The Brehon law survived relatively intact right through the … Continue reading
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A Counterfeite Tortoise Shell Frame
Samuel Pepys’ diary entry for Wednesday 27 June 1666. Thence to Lovett’s, who has now done something towards the varnishing of single paper for the making of books, which will do, I think, very well. He did also carry me … Continue reading
Picture This CXXXI
Stand down sleuths; there is absolutely nothing wrong with the top of this William and Mary walnut chest-on-stand! I merely offer it as an untouched thing of beauty (click to enlarge). Crossgrain-moulded, veneered and banded chest, circa 1695. (Mackinnon Fine … Continue reading
What One Can and Cannot Do
You may read this as the forward to a book I have a mind to write. When woodworking: One can use kiln-dried timber for most purposes. One can often employ machinery and power tools. One can stick wood together with … Continue reading
Tompion Miniature Table Clock Sold
Lot 103, a table clock, known as the ‘Q (queen) Clock’, made for Queen Mary II by English master clockmaker Thomas Tompion sold for £1,935,063 (AU$3,561,195.85/US$ 2,454,836.67) at Bonham’s The Clive Collection of Exceptional Clocks sale in London yesterday, Wednesday … Continue reading
Picture This CXXIX – Redux
Last night I watched the first episode of The Miniaturist, a television drama set in late seventeenth-century Amsterdam. The period-accurate attention to detail was astonishing. At one point, the young Petronella approached and opened a coffre forte, virtually identical to … Continue reading
A Pair of George II Irish Walnut Side Chairs – Part Four
This morning, Wellard alerted me to the arrival of an intruder: I lifted my eyes from the bench and saw a van trundling up the drive towards the house. I dusted myself down and set off across the yard to … Continue reading
Sawpit Perils
If you were a sawyer in the late eighteenth-century, you might not have begun your day’s work as early as other craftsmen and labourers, for the sawpit could, on occasion, be a hazardous place at the break of day. Duellists, … Continue reading
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
