"...home again, home again, jiggidy jig."

She was in the shop for several weeks... and what do I do when a furniture "friend" is all spiffyed up and talkin about wanting to go home? I whisk her home of course!

Check out these pics. Can't you almost hear her breathing multiple long sighs of red mahogany satisfaction? "Ahhhh....I'm home!" Alas, here she is back at home in her familiar spot, bearing her lamp on revitalized legs, with one new brass "slipper,"and all of em refitted, integrated parts and pieces contributing a newly restored and deep sense of self-esteem and pride. It's one of those "feel good" stories--and a shared satisfaction that I'm quite pleased to have had a part in.

That's Wood Talkin...for today. Keep listening.

Update on the Duncan Pfyfe Lamp Table

These pictures will tell the story here. So, right, is a poor quality but effective picture of what were probably a puppy's "love bites" on one of the legs. Most of that scarring was removed in the stripping and surface renewal process (below left), but given the table's heirloom status, with all the stories it can tell, the tooth marks were carefully "edited" so family members can still find and revisit the puppy's memory--but in a way the table "wants to tell it."

Here is the promise of a new Pfyfe foot. You can see the broken one with it's strong down angular lines behind the block of Maple. You can also see the outline of the new foot penciled into the Maple block's surface. It's ready to be cut out and shaped for placement and gluing as a Pfyfe-styled foot.


Finally, below, is the stained and sealed table as it looks just before the lacquer finish coat and hand rubbing. It appears almost like knew--almost. (That broken foot is on the one you seen on the right.) The table retains it's heirloom integrity with the stories that compliment it. It stands proudly at attention anticipating a handsome new hand-rubbed lacquer finish. It's a promise in the making, and deservedly so!

Duncan Phyfe Styled Lamp Table

This cute little jewel has curves in all the right places. She's been in the customer's family, so despite her collection of blemishes and "wrinkles" she owns a respected place in the dining-living area of their home. As you may be able to see, she originally radiated Red Mahogany from underneath a factory lacquered finish. Even as I was transporting her to the shop she brimmed with excitement and enthusiasm--obviously anticipating her timely face-lift.

Here are some close-ups of her distinguishing characteristics, but take a good look because in less than ten days you won't recognize her. Here's an accurate pic of the way her top surface looks now (right), and (above, left) her pedestal base and upper leg structure (Yes, I know that's embarrassing--She's really shy!). She has a broken leg too (left, below...Wow, that looks painful), and somewhere along the path of her "world travels" she lost one foot and a "slipper"...(I told her an alligator story won't work here).

...and yes, that's a close-up (below) of one of her brass "slippers." These are genuine antiques, so the replacement will be a reproduction--but an excellent one. Nobody will ever know the difference--(and, shush...nor will she).


That's Wood Talking for today. Check back; we're gonna have so much fun!

It's a proud red oak single-pedestal dining table. This one's vintage--probably 1920-30's--and it's solid oak through and through; no veneer anywhere on this honey. It's the real McCoy! At one point the previous owner split the table's "ways" (slides) underneath; the two halves of the top were secured (with a metal fastening system) to prevent it from opening. So, it no longer accommodates a (probably) 12-14" width leaf. That mechanism will be left in place for now, but an appropriate replacement leaf (and ways) can be made and reintroduced in the future if, if...(The table yearns for past glories, but I've encouraged it to continue being patient...since time and perseverance is definitely and persuasively on its side!)

My customer explains how this piece belonged to some family members. At one point it reportedly sat out in a yard through the rain and weather. Surprisingly there is little separation in its joints despite the inappropriate disrespect. The finish right now is lacquer, but it appears to have been redone at some previous point, so the original finish could easily have been a varnish or, desirably, a fine oil with and a beeswax rubbed finish.

It has a variety of little "battle scars." (see pic, top left) Literally all of these have been filled, previous to this repair, or previously sanded from its surface. They will still be there to tell their story, but just under the protective surface of this new effort. It will be finished in a natural look, lighter in tone than what you see being removed in these pictures, a hand-rubbed lacquer to soften its visuals and feel. It'll be "soft and warm" consistent with the finishing "flavor" and patina of the period into which this beauty was born.


That's Wood Talkin for today. Keep checkin in--and listening!

A Honey of a Hutch

Actually it's probably a commode...at least that's what my customer is telling me. She says her mom bought it second hand, but never used it as a commode. However, the shelf inside this little hutch (you can't see it in this shot, but you can see it in the previous blog picture since it) seems to prohibit the use of a tall pitcher and it's companion two-gallon lidded crock. Both of these items would be too tall for the self inside the cabinet.

Nevertheless, this little jewel is amazingly attractive. It was a really fun piece to have around--a real adventure to rescue and lovingly refinish--and something of a rare find. Knowing it sat on a back porch for several years covered with six layers of paint and varnish, suggests to me that those layers of variously colored (lead based) paint probably proved to protect this little gem from the seasonal temperature fluctuation, the snow, and the rain.

So, it's gone home. Boy was it excited! I was happy to see it go and my customer...well, she's now trying to find the perfect place to put it INSIDE HER HOUSE. Ha

That's Wood Talkin for today.

Honey In a Pie Safe

Here's a real sweet surprise. My customer showed me a sad little chest that she wanted me to refinish. It was in bad shape. It had been repeatedly painted, it's top was badly split, it had rot and insect holes, and it was badly stained. She told me its story including the fact it had been sitting on her back porch for the past several years. Why? Because she didn't know what she wanted to do with it.

So, this picture represents a lot of work! It was pink when I brought it into the shop and began the refinishing process (top, right). As that effort soon discovered, it had been painted six times over many years, pink, turquoise, green, yellow, and white. The original finish was an old varnish.

Of course you see here what I began to see as the layers of paint and years were stripped away (bottom, right). Obviously, too, the piece is a genuine antique. I was increasingly excited through the refinishing process as I began to realize this was an 1870-1880 solid walnut piece manufactured, probably in the United States, during the Victorian Era. It's grace and quality are unmistakable---when all the gunk is finally stripped away to rediscover its simple beauty and character. Fascinating!

What you see here (bottom, right) is a picture taken right after the second sanding seal coat was applied. I'll update you on the finished product, too.

Dick

A QUESTION OF IDENTITY

Quite occasionally we get a piece that has no identification. (It's sorta like you or I getting stopped for a traffic violation and not having a drivers license or proof of insurance.) No, I'm not arresting or citing anyone for bringing a piece in the door that has no manufacturer's identifying marks, but I'm always wondering...wondering. "Who put this piece together?"

Recently these pieces (covered, right) arrived in the shop. They are very obviously well made and very upscale in the quality of their finish. So it's always nice to put a "name on the face" so to speak. The tops of these two bedside tables needed to be refinished; several other areas on each piece had suffered similar damage. The lacquer finish is still very much alive, suggesting they were manufactured within the past 10 years or so.

These two came with a similarly finished Sleigh Bed designed headboard and matching foot-board. Their top horizontal rails (not yet pictured) are being stripped and refinished to remove several scars and dents and then the vertical posts will be be touched-up. These will be followed into the shop by two standing dressers. They complete the set. Their arrival in the shop is anticipated just as soon as these items are completed and deliverable--ready to trade them places.

Sometimes the wood doesn't say as much as we'd like it to. Hmmm, some people are that way too, huh.

That's Wood Talkin for today.

Dick