Greene and Greene Bookcase Challenge04

Posted as a blog entry, for the official contest.

For the Challenge04 I decided to design a Greene and Greene Bookcase.

The Greene brothers, Charles and Henry decided to create a new and fresh style different from the Arts and Craft designs that was becoming popular in that time. Some of their designs were influenced by some Asian furniture.

I opted then to build a Greene and Greene Style bookcase using breadboards and splines for the top but also creating a mid rail in the middle of the top. Ebony Pegs are used in the joints and Ebony pegs and splines are used to attach the breadboard on the top.

The corner posts are 1 3/4 square stock with 1” stock used for the rest of the construction of the case. Ebony pegs are used to join the rails to the corner posts. The sides rails and the upper front rail have the classic “Cloud Lift” design. On the sides the “Cloud Lifts” both have an upper movement, thereby making them move as one.

A center support is designed to allow for different spacing, if desired, for the left and right shelves. They are adjustable on ebony pegs in the case ends and mid support. I am visualizing a shiplap style back, but might revise it under additional considerations.

Each of the shelves will be constructed with breadboards and splines. The ebony pegs will be flush on the ends to allow for closer fitting of the shelves to the case sides. They will be adjustable through the use of Ebony Plugs placed in holes in the case sides.

The base is an Asian style with curved legs and a carved apron that matches the curve of the legs at the intersection of the apron and leg. Thereby given a smooth flow between the joints. The aprons will be cut at a 45 degree angle and the front and side aprons will join together at the upper edge of the leg.

A cloud lift stretcher will be used between the legs on all 4 sides. I see it a a 3/4” round stretcher that has the cloud lifts in the middle.

It is visualized as a 54” high case, and approx 40” wide. A model will be created to insure that the proportions are correct. The legs and apron section is visualized to be 10” in height which would make the bookcase assembly to be 64” in total height. The shelves would be 12” in depth making the case around 15” in depth. The top will overhang the front by 1” making the top 16” in depth. The top will be flush at the case back.

My Golden Mean calculations or Golden ratio Calculations for this bookcase are posted here

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com