Millions of Thread Miles...and counting

How many million yards of thread did this little box hold through the years? It's fun to speculate. This little cherry wood box has been around for a while, probably since the 1870's or so....my guess. It walked in the door needing some TLC. It got it.

Pic taken after a little cleaning had been done

Whenever we're working with an item like this the challenge is one of not doing too much. The question: Do we want to support it's antique integrity--look like an antique and be an antique when it's finished--or does the customer want to drag it (kicking and screaming) into the contemporary age. I use that terminology because the tools and finishes and sensibilities of the 21st century are not the tools and finishes of the 18th century.

The choice was on the side of antique integrity with this little guy. So the effort of my apprenticing son, Nathan, was one characterized by cleaning, repairing existing structural pieces, re-gluing, and refreshing surfaces. No hard sanding was done on the box's existing surfaces.

Nathan then French Polished the box. It's simple...and time consuming, a technique that really cannot be used commercially today; it's just too time-demanding. In the 1700's French Polishing became a finish technique of choice, for its general beauty--rich feel, relative durability, visual depth and color. It looks really good---don't you agree; it always feels good to look so good.

It's going to go home with a new zest for life--a marvelous, mature J&P Coats 1870's Thread Box...and strutting its stuff in the 21st century!

Nice job Nate!

And that's Wood Talkin for  today....listening is always good!