This is another project I made about a year ago for the same client that I did the previous post. We wanted to do something in the Federal style. Steve's request was Curly Maple drawer fronts and the upper was to be glazed to show off some great pottery.

The carcase was solid Mahogany. I chose White Pine as the secondary wood.

I used two different pieces for inspiration. For the base and cornice I chose the secretary on page 177 in Albert Sack's The New Fine Points Of Furniture. The upper is from a second Piece on page 175. I think they blended well to create a unique and functional piece of furniture.

 Here's a shot of the drawer details. Dovetails, Curly Maple field with a Mahogany cross band and an   Ebony line separating the two.

 This picture shows the start of the doors for the upper cabinet. The doors where constructed of solid Mahogany then veneered with crotch Mahogany on the exterior and plain sliced to balance on the inside. Although the ached glazing bars where a challenge to do, I love the look.

Here is a detailed shot showing the joinery at the glazing bar intersection. Hard to see but horizontal bars half lap and that through mortices the vertical bar

                                    Here it is with the base complete, upper mostly complete.

                            This is a detail of the Eagle inlay I purchased from Dover Design. Sorry I don't have a close up of just the cornice. It was fun to do and was topped off by three wonderful reproduction brasses finials from Londonderry Brasses. They supplied all of the hardware for the piece and it really finishes a reproduction off right. Thanks Nancy for all your help!

                                                           Before the finish is started.

                                                            Delivered to it's new home.


     I have been working on a set of 12 Louis XVI Dining chairs that I will be posting about soon.

Thought I would go back and revisit a piece I did about 2 years ago.

Had a guy come into the shop that I share with Great American Carpentry Co. He was a client of theirs , they had just finished up a nice addition on the home.

 Steve started asking me questions about the finish I was using on a Elm Hunt Table we were refininshing. His next question after pointing at a highly carved Chippedale arm chair "can you build this" yeah but they'ed be real expensive was my answer. Can you build a chest? "sure anything you want Steve" was my reply. "let me show you some photos, so in my office we went. As I was going through my pics on the computer, Steve pics up a Wallace Nutting book. The following picture out of the book is what we decided on in a matter of about 5 minutes.  I was stunned to say the least. I immediately called Ed to see if this guy is for real. He is and off we went. My instuction was to build it the way I would for myself.

                                          So what comes next but a lot of hand cut dovetails This is the lower case          being done.

                                             

                                              Here is the lower case before the glue up.

The next couple are of the blocking for the bracket feet.

 On to the drawer fronts. These where some big fronts, 2 1/2" thick if my memory serves me right.

 The color variation comes from the difference between a sanded surface and a hand planed one.

.

 Next I started on the inside. With nothing in the picture to go by I made it the easy way. I used Lonnie Bird's basic design that he wrote about in Fine Woodworking. Thanks Lonnie !!

               At this point the bureau portion is complete. On to the upper bookcase portion.

 This shows the upper with the doors on before fluted pilasters. To do the crotch mahogany panels I had the Wood Gallery veneer a pair of panels. I gave them a very close dimension to make them and had them save the off falls so I could veneer the bevel that was done on a shaper. I think it worked out great, a nice look of crotch mahogany without the worry of an unstable panel warping or splitting.

                                                        A detail of the fluted pilasters.

 This is a shot of the jig I used with a laminate trimmer to rout the blind fretwork. Still had a lot of hand work to do.

Detail of the cornice.

    Ready for some color.

                                               

                                                       

                                           
                                           

    Just about ready to deliver. The hardware from Londonderry Brasses make it all come together.

                                                       In it's new home.  Thanks Steve

My next project was a Quarter Sawn White Oak pedestal for a bust of Winston Churchill. This is another design by Jim Guy. It also has a bit of brass to be inlaid, along with a touch of granite to set it off.

                                        Here is the basic box with the stiles and rails in place.

 This is the upper frieze that will have the griffins and name inlaid. the tricky part was the way the corner detail came together. The outside corner was only attached at the top and bottom of the horizontal pieces. this was the only way you could have a 1/4 " piece and have a 1/4 "deep recess.

                                                     

                                                        Thats my little finger in the shot.

                                   
                                        This is the mini shoot board I made to trim the pieces.

                                     Ready for stain and a finish. Fluted columns fit the corners.
                                        You can also see the moldings installed in the panels.

These four show some more of the details. 

Marble installed, waiting on the bronze griffins and letters.

I used a scroll saw to cut out the relief for the brass letters.

A little fish glue around the edges and tapped in with a block of scrap wood and a mallet.

Installed.

 Terrible picture had a lot of light coming through the window.