The original of this desk was in the collection of an extremely good friend. It was made in Philadelphia around 1690 – 1710. I saw the original piece when I was in my teens and knew I had to copy it one day. After nearly two decades of seeing this piece with some regularity, I finally worked up the nerve to ask if I could take patterns. When my friend eagerly agreed, I jumped at the chance. He even allowed me to borrow an original knob from an interior drawer front and one from a lid slide so I could have them copied exactly.

The original was made in walnut with yellow pine and white cedar secondaries. Naturally, since I was making a precise replica, I used the same materials. The yellow pine was recycled from a building in Bethlehem, PA that was built in the mid 1700’s. The white cedar for the drawer bottoms and back boards came from a friend in Virginia Beach who carves decoys. The walnut I used was actually cutoffs from a log set of crotches. I never realized how curly the excess material was until I milled it.

There is a hidden compartment just in front of the two center drawers of the interior. Part of the wrting surface slides back to allow access to a well below. That is the only hidden compartment in my replica. The remainder of the brass hardware was made in England. The iron hinges for the lid were made by a local blacksmith. I “aged” the piece and the final finish is orange shellac, as usual.

My friend has passed on now. He was a WWII hero, a great collector of William and Mary furniture and my friend and mentor. I’m glad I have the copy of this desk to remind me of the great times we had talking until the early morning hours about furniture and the history of our great country. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed the decades of seeing the original.

This chest is made of cherry with poplar secondaries. As with all my pieces, it is a commissioned job. The best part of a piece like this is that it entails so many different aspects of woodworking. The pics here show the piece in the shop either while finishing is going on or just before the piece is cleaned of dust, waxed and delivered. If you’re really interested in seeing the piece made in a step by step tutorial, check out my blog.

I’ve made half a dozen or so oxbow chests. They derive their name from the “reverse serpentine” shape of the front which is similar in shape to the yoke of an ox cart. These chests are always fun to build because of the added challenges of the beaded case and the shaped drawer fronts. Since I really enjoy woodcarving, it takes an otherwise straight forward chest design and adds a sculptural aspect to the job. I hope you enjoy it.

I’m just in the mood for tea tables tonight. This pie crust stand is copied from an original that is in a private collection. The top is approximately 26” in diameter. The whole piece is made of extremely figured tiger maple. If you want a challenge, try carving ball and claw feet in this tuff. It’s like carving iron. The color is achieved with a layered analine dye and oil stain. The finish on the top is a tung oil and varnish mix. The base is finished in shellac. Yep, it took a lot of hours to do all that carving.

Another tea table. This one is copied from an original table that exhibits characteristics of tables made in both Salem, Mass. and Newport, Rhode Island. The wood is mahogany. The top is a single, solid mahogany crotch. The color is achieved with water based analine dye. The top is finished with a tung oil and varnish mix. The base is finished in shellac.

This is one of my favorite tea tables to make. The one in the picture is in extremely curly cherry. It has a one piece solid top and the entire table is made from wood from the same log set. The legs are very delicate but still beefy enough to stand up to a hard afternoon tea. The color is achieved with a water based analine dye. The final finish is a tung oil and varnish mix.

This is another one of my signature pieces. The piece was copied from an original in a museum. The legs, stretchers and case sides are in maple. The drawer fronts and front apron parts are veneered in walnut burl. All the moldings are made from solid walnut. The secondary woods are mahogany and poplar. The brasses are made for me in England. The finish is a layered analine dye under an oil based stain, then shellac is applied for the final finish. Only had two pictures of the piece. Hope you enjoy it.

It’s a tiger maple fest tonight, folks. Here’s another spice chest on frame I’ve made. This one is in tiger maple. It has carved Spanish feet and tombstone raised panel doors. There are some secret compartments but I don’t have pictures and the customer asked me not to tell anyone where they are. The piece stand about 33” high. It has my standard analine dye color and shellac finish. I hope you enjoy it.

Here’s another desk I’ve made. Like the original I copied, it’s in tiger maple which is something extraordinary for a period piece made in Pennsylvania. It does have some hidden compartments behind the drawers in the center compartment. All the secondaries are poplar. The case and drawers are constructed using hand cut dovetails. The coolest part of this desk (in my opinion) is the top is fully blind dovetails on and the edge is molded. It’s the only photo I have. Wish I had more but I don’t

The color is achieved with analine dye and the finish is shellac. The hardware was custom made to mimic the hardware on the original.

This is a copy of the only known Philadelphia spice chest that is modeled after a highboy. The piece is constructed of mahogany with poplar secondaries. The color is achieved using water based analine dye and the finish is my typical shellac. There are no secret compartments in this spice chest. I’ve also made another version of this spice chest with a more ornately carved bottom apron. I’ll add more photos when I get the chance.

Ok, by popular demand (and the fact that I promised it) I’ve added more photos. The crotch door panels are resawn from a single solid crotch and then laminated to straight grained mahogany. I looked for a shot with some of the drawers open but don’t have any. You’ll just have to take my word for it that they are constructed with hand cut dovetails. Not owning, or knowing how to use a dovetail jig will do that to a person.

J.C., I’ll be waiting to hear more from you. You guys are good for my ego. Sometimes, when you make things like this on a daily basis, you take for granted how special it is to have the opportunity to make things like this on a daily basis. Everyone has had such kind words of encouragement that it makes me pause and realize how truly lucky I am to be able to make a living at my chosen profession. Thanks to all of you.

Another one of my standard pieces. Adapted from a period bed made in America during the late 1700’s. This one was made in some awesome curly birch.