| Project by acanthuscarver | posted 528 days ago | 885 views | 0 times favorited | 30 comments | ![]() |
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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.
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com































30 comments so far
GaryK
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9496 posts in 867 days
posted 528 days ago
Great job on an amazing desk! I’m sure you made your friend proud.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Woodhacker
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1145 posts in 602 days
posted 528 days ago
Chuck, what a great piece! You did an excellent job, it is truly beautiful.
Thanks for posting it … and the great story that makes it so special.
-- Martin, Kansas
trifern
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7890 posts in 646 days
posted 528 days ago
Awesome job. The attention to detail is impeccable. It would be hard to discern between this and an original. Thank you for sharing.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
Scott Bryan
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20071 posts in 700 days
posted 528 days ago
Chuck,
This is simply a stunning piece. I am sure your friend was proud of the effort that you put into this reproduction of his original.
Thanks for the post and the story behind it.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Rxmpo
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119 posts in 624 days
posted 528 days ago
Chuck,
As always your posting is a true work of art, yet the story behind this desk is as moving the desk itself. Congratulations.
Mike
Bigbuck
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1366 posts in 542 days
posted 528 days ago
Very, very nice. It is always interesting to hear the story behind a piece and that is a beautiful desk. Thanks for sharing it
-- Glenn, New Mexico
ND2ELK
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6065 posts in 652 days
posted 528 days ago
Exquisite detail and design. You did a beautiful job on this piece as always. Thanks for posting.
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
acanthuscarver
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150 posts in 591 days
posted 528 days ago
Thanks everyone for the compliments. My friend was indeed pleased with my reproduction of his desk. Getting his stamp of approval on my copy was far more difficult than actually making the piece. He started collecting period furniture right after WWII. He was a serious student of the period and had tremendous recall of even the smallest details of pieces. He was a good friend who is gone just under two months now. My hope is that one day when I’m closing in on 90 years old, I’ll have been a friend and mentor to some LJ somewhere like Joe was to me.
To start myself on that path, check out my blog, I’ve just today started another series of posts regarding furniture design and connoiseurship. It’s not limited to “period” furniture. In the coming months I’ll be exploring design from many different angles. Between that and my ongoing series of project posts, hopefully someone will be inspired to greater heights.
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
GMman
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1178 posts in 576 days
posted 528 days ago
That is a very fine job you are a very good patient woodworker, I love your work thanks for posting
-- <<<<<< I will not stop until I get it right. >>>>>>--
Charles Mullins
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94 posts in 590 days
posted 528 days ago
Chuck,
I am inspired.
As usual, a great job!
Charlie M.
-- God makes the wood beautiful--I simply rearrange it to make it more useful, hopefully.
stanley2
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274 posts in 674 days
posted 528 days ago
Chuck – the quality of your work is always high – the story behind this piece is what’s special for me.
-- Phil in British Columbia
CharlieM1958
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7466 posts in 1097 days
posted 528 days ago
Amazing reproduction. I’d swear those were photos of an original.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
dennis mitchell
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3785 posts in 1193 days
posted 528 days ago
The craftsmanship of days gone by has always inspired me. A piece of work like that is to be treasured, but you add the personal story and it is ever more inspiring! Thanks
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
acanthuscarver
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150 posts in 591 days
posted 528 days ago
Thanks again to everyone for the kind words. CharlieM, I’ll try to toss up a picture of the period desk when I have a chance to dig it out. You can tell me then if you still think mine looks like the original.
I’m really glad everyone likes the story behind the desk. Most of the pieces I make end up with their own tales. I’ll make sure I post the better ones as I add projects. Thanks again for checking out the piece.
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
bfd
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413 posts in 685 days
posted 528 days ago
Hi Chuck,
OK had I seen this before my project post I would have never posted my project after this! This and all your pieces are simply AWESOME. The story behind the piece is as special as the work itself. Seeing craftmanship like this motivates me to become a better woodworker…very inspiring.
-- Brian, Folsom, CA http://www.brianfullerdesigns.com
TomK
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501 posts in 753 days
posted 528 days ago
That is truely awsome work! I’m curious if the hidden compartment needs a “trigger” to function, or just slides without any action taking place. Hidden compartments have always fascinated me.
-- If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait until it's free! PJ O'Rourke
acanthuscarver
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150 posts in 591 days
posted 528 days ago
Tom, no trigger needed for this compartment. It’s hard to see in the photo but the area of the writing surface immediately in front of the two center interior drawers is surrounded by a double arch molding. You would think the molding was there to merely frame out the figured wood inset of the writing surface but it actually covers the edge of the joint that allows the crotch panel to slide back under the drawers. This gives access to the well below (typically used for writing impliments, ink and paper so you didn’t have to close the lid of the desk to get at the drawers below). There are two other hidden compartments inside the well but they’re hard enough to find without having the added pleasure of finding a locking mechanism.
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
EdC
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454 posts in 719 days
posted 527 days ago
Period furniture is incredible, the craftsmanship for detail beautiful.
Nice Job Chuck!!
Do ever watch Tommie McDonald’s pod cast “T-Chisel”?
He is also into the Period Furniture, he is a grad of the North Bennet Street School. If I was a little younger I would like to go there when I’m finished where I am going now. Right now two years here and another two there thats a lot.
-- Ed - Milan, IN
acanthuscarver
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150 posts in 591 days
posted 527 days ago
EdC, Grandma Moses was in her 80’s when she started painting. Age is never an excuse for not persuing your dreams.
I’m pretty new to this aspect of woodworking. I’ve been pretty immersed in the business of making and studying the period pieces I build for people. Sure I’ve trained apprentices but my involvement with those who want to do this as an avocation is extremely limited. So, to answer your question, I really don’t know who Tommie McDonald is but I certainly will seek him out. I’ve known many NBSS grads. Even had a few as apprentices. I’d be interested to see what he’s doing and how he’s doing it. Thanks for the tip.
Bfd, I was thinking the same thing about that zebra wood table.
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
jockmike2
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7222 posts in 1125 days
posted 526 days ago
Gorgeous, again another masterpiece. mike
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
acanthuscarver
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150 posts in 591 days
posted 526 days ago
Mike,
As always, you’re too kind. Thanks.
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
Lee A. Jesberger
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3709 posts in 858 days
posted 525 days ago
Hi Chuck;
I am surprised and sorry I haven’t noticed your posts before.
This piece is fantastic, and your skills are obviously up to the task of achieving.
No small feat. I’m glad you had the honor of knowing your friend, and a collector of period furniture.
I too had a friend who was very much into period furniture, as am I, who until his death was a mentor and teacher to me, in addition to being a designer. I’ve mentioned him often on this site since much of what I know was influenced by him. As a General Contractor I was honored to work with him on many projects for close to twenty years.
We had many of the long conversations you mentioned enjoying so much. Your desire to have similar conversations when you reach that age is also mutual. I know my friend enjoyed our talks as much as I did.
Again, your work is inspiring. Now I’m off to check out your website.
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
Rxmpo
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119 posts in 624 days
posted 523 days ago
Just for those not familiar with “T-Chisel”-
Tommie McDonald’s pod show is fantastic to watch because he is out of his mind. He was a carpenter on the “Big Dig” in Boston till he got hurt and he’s still a salty Southie. A gifted furniture maker without question and just watch this episode as he cuts the sides of his commissioned Secretary…absolutely priceless!
http://www.bobvila.com/RoughCutShow/Podcast_089.html
Beginningwoodworker
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3857 posts in 551 days
posted 393 days ago
Thats a nice desk, Chuck.
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
beefonrocks
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41 posts in 181 days
posted 166 days ago
I have been reviewing your collection, all I can say is very nice! You are very talented.
-- Don, Flower Mound, TX
SCOTSMAN
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2229 posts in 464 days
posted 166 days ago
looks fantastic I love this period also anything old and my special love also of arts and crafts makes me like yourself interested in furniture making well done again Alistair
-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease
matt garcia
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679 posts in 550 days
posted 134 days ago
What a great desk, and an even greater friend for allowing you to recreate it!!
-- Matt, Houston Texas
Karson
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25274 posts in 1279 days
posted 124 days ago
Chuck: That is a great looking desk. A very nice piece and the grain of the piece is fantastic.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Dave
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19 posts in 1143 days
posted 120 days ago
i like that it is vary cool looking when i lived in new jersy we had one that look like that.
-- º¤ø„¸¨°º¤ø„¸¸„ø¤º°¨¸„ø¤º°¨
Hyperhutch
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36 posts in 128 days
posted 119 days ago
Wonderful desk! I absolutely love period furniture, and you have created a beautiful piece will deserving of the many accolades. Can’t wait to see more!
Hutch
P.S. I happen to be particularly fond of William and Mary furniture, as I do a lot of turning.
-- I hope the volume of shavings one creates is directly related to the probablility of one's success, cuz if so I've got it made!!