Category Archives: Books

Incy Wincy Mayhew – a New Book

Posted on 22nd November 2022 by Jack Plane

Hugh Roberts and Charles Cator, Industry and Ingenuity: The Partnership of William Ince and John Mayhew (London: Philip Wilson Publishers, November 2022), 448 pages, ISBN: 9781781301098. Via Bloomsbury. The first comprehensive study of William Ince and John Mayhew’s famous eighteenth-century … Continue reading →

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An Early Victim

Posted on 14th April 2020 by Jack Plane

Early bun-footed floor-standing chests of drawers and the upper chests of chests-on-chests and chests-on-stands that have subsequently migrated onto bracket feet have been the topic of many a post on this blog. Some of them evolved as their fragile feet … Continue reading →

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John Head’s Account Book

Posted on 11th December 2018 by Jack Plane

Following on from yesterday’s post concerning a bureau made by the English emigrant, John Head, the American Philosophical Society digitized Head’s account book and has today, made it available to all and sundry. The American Philosophical Society has also published an … Continue reading →

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New Book | American Furniture 1650 to the Present

Posted on 5th January 2018 by Jack Plane

Oscar Fitzgerald, American Furniture, 1650 to the Present (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2017), 630 pages, ISBN: 978 144227 0381, $130 / £85. Drawing on the latest scholarship, this comprehensive, lavishly illustrated survey tells the story of the evolution of American … Continue reading →

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New Book | The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale Junior

Posted on 30th December 2017 by Jack Plane

Judith Goodison, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale Junior (Philip Wilson, 2017), 464 pages, ISBN: 9781781300565, £65 / $95. The Chippendale cabinet-making firm, founded by Thomas Chippendale senior in about 1750 became famous partly through the successful publication of … Continue reading →

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The Book

Posted on 1st July 2016 by Jack Plane

The book is no longer. It was coming along nicely – albeit slowly – when a few months ago I stupidly allowed a ransomware virus into my computer. I say stupidly, but in my defence, the virus came ingeniously disguised … Continue reading →

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Unreasonable Fourth

Posted on 22nd September 2015 by Jack Plane

Since completing the third chest of drawers for the upcoming book, I have had a lot on my plate which has dictated, at best, sporadic work on the fourth chest. I did, however, begin with great gusto; preparing the carcase’s … Continue reading →

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Die Kommode mit funf Schubladen

Posted on 21st March 2015 by Jack Plane

… 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 →

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I’ve done My Number Two…

Posted on 23rd January 2015 by Jack Plane

… chest of five chests of drawers that I’m making for the up-coming book. The second chest of drawers is a five-drawer Queen Anne chest from around 1705. The pine carcase is veneered with (locally grown) English walnut and the … Continue reading →

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One Down

Posted on 1st November 2014 by Jack Plane

No, not a cryptic crossword clue, but news of the completion of the first of five chests of drawers I’m making for my up-coming book. The first chest of drawers is typical of small four-drawer William and Mary chests made … Continue reading →

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