thoughts from the shop
Done and delivered. The wine cabinet armoire retrofit was a little more labor and material intensive than first thought but....still an enjoyable build. Storage of up to 48 bottles of wine and plenty of stem glass rack space. A nice reversible use of a 19th antique French walnut armoire.
#walnut #woodworking #antiques #frenchantiques #repurposed #upcycle #homedecor #furniture #design #furnituredesign #woodwork #antiquerestoration #johnbrooksfinefurniture
Country French walnut armoire that just came in for a retrofit. We will be building a 48 bottle wine rack and service top with a glass rack above. I’ve always enjoyed the country French woodwork and iron hardware. Very tactile and approachable. One is easily able to relate to the strong natural bonds of the materials.
#wood #iron #antique #restoration #reuse #french #frenchantiques #walnut #antiqueiron #retrofit #antiqueshop #repairshop #johnbrooksfinefurniture
Sometimes parts have long been discontinued or aren’t readily available. In this case we made a small iron bed rail connector to replace the missing one. Attaches to a mission style crib that’s in the shop for repair and restoration. The one in the rear is the new piece.
#restoration #antique #antiquerestorations #furniturerepair #furniture #cabinetmaker #restore #fabricate#homedecor #repairshop #johnbrooksfinefurniture
18th century Scandinavian secret book box. Wood is beech but the patches are poplar. Easier carving and to color. Dry old brown surface was colored using powdered pigments and acrylic washes. Wishing everyone well on a fine New England day. The best in a month and needed during this trying time.
#woodworking #chipcarving #antiques #restoration #antiquerestoration #furniture #interiordesign #homedecor #antiqueconservation
A photo from the end of last week. Showing the glass all glazed in and new woodwork colored in to match existing. Completed on a 3 door bookcase 1st half of the 20th century. Ready for delivery to client.
#woodworking #antiques #antiquerestorations #antique #restoration #repair #woodfinishing #finishing #bookcase #furniture #homedecor #newengland
Clip of the glass being cut for the doors. It’s nice to have the old hardware store glass cutter in the shop. It makes short work of the cuts. The new glass has all been cut and was pinned and glazed. Set aside to dry for a day before coloring.
#antiquerestoration #antiques #restoration #repair #furniture #furniturerestoration #antique #woodworking #wood
This project has been sitting in the shadows for a bit. With time slowed down it’s been a pleasure to work on one that was a bit underbid but enjoyable work. All the subframe was missing. 1/2 inch by 1/8 inch mahogany stock was laid out and fit. The heavy 1/8+ thick mahogany and boxwood lined face stock was hand laid up then glued to sub straight. New glass will be cut and glazed in next week. Thoughts to all of safety and
Wellness. Keep plugging! Thanks to the frontlines!!
I know I haven’t posted in a bit, just been workin... but this Great carved cane came in and it was a easy post. From 1st half 20th cen. great hand work and detail. this one is part of a larger grouping of canes In the folk art tradition. Will be at Dealers Choice, Brimfield in September.
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#cane #folkart #carving #woodcarving #bird #antique #antiques #brimfieldantiqueshow #birds #newengland #
The First Parish sign is complete and ready for Install. It has been a long and interesting journey in the creation of this sign. I’ve learned a lot and enjoyed new materials and techniques. It opened up the world of sign and letter painting which I’ve had very limited experience with. There is such great work out there a true delight to see. We’ll post some shots once it’s installed and the official job wrap is complete. .#sign #vintagesign #signpainting #lettering #type #grotonma #firstparishgroton #woodwork #woodfinish #newengland #paint #antique #restoration
Working outside today on a little repurpose creation. 19th century panel door and a railing from same era are being fashioned into a store fixture. It will be place in a front window to simulate a porch swing and used to display items sold by the store. A great day to be outside and a fun summer project coming into the 4th. The railing was featured in an earlier post and has found its home in this project. Sometimes storing all those odd objects pays off. For a bit you can convince yourself and others your not a hoarder for now.
#repurposed #repurposedfurniture #architecturalsalvage #woodworking #oldpaint #vintage #storedesign #furniture #furnituredesign #summerday #4thofjuly #newengland #whiteinterior
Shop work...feet on a PA. Tall case clock late 18th/early 19th century. Period timber from an old drawer front was re-sawn and used for feet and face veneers. The church sign continues with all the lettering leafed. Touch ups and textured sand background to come next. A nice summer day with humidity rising. .
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It’s been a while.
a Group of pictures and a video to show the progression on the church sign. I’m by no means a sign painter and being able to make the stencil and transfer the type helped tremendously. I’ve also had the help of a friend who’s not on IG but should be! His hand skills with a brush are.... well. Great team work. We’re working with 23k transfer gold leaf and quick dry size. Even with the quick dry it is sometimes hard to wait for the proper tack. I’m a little behind on this project but in the end the extra few months won’t matter with a great end product for the Parish. I also think it’s in their by-laws to forgive... #goldleaf #lettering #handlettered #type #font #typedesign #sign #signlettering #antique #grotonma #newengland #design #goodjob #enjoy #woodwork #antiquerestoration
Repair and patch to a sailor made bone walking stick 19th century. The break was pinned and glued. A patch of antler was set into the lower section of beak that was missing. It was shaped and polished. Still needed is some surface and color work. I’ll also dark wax fill the eye and mouth line. Have a good weekend.
#antiquecane #antique #walkingstick #materialculture #americana #nautical #maritime #restoration #conservation #repair #restore #decor #antiquedecor #newengland
Building a base for a weather vane. A great day to be outside! Enjoy-
#weathervane #antiques #welding #fabrication #vintage #homedecor #designbuild #springtime #newengland #iron #ironbed
The finished frame for portrait number one. Historic portrait of gentleman with aged gilt frame. Water guilded over red bole base. From board to bench,hand moulded ogee frame(check previous post) This one led me through several early mornings and late nights. Happily delivered today. Welcome Friday! .
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#framemaker #frame #antique #antiquerestoration #restoration #woodwork #design #homedecor #interiordesign #goldleaf #portrait #newengland moulding #handmade #
The frames were gesso’d over the weekend and this morning I sanded them smooth. I wanted to work with Bole but had none. My son had some air drying clay which was hard. I broke this up and ground to a fine powder. I did this with a stone mortar and pestle. I sifted the powder three times through a sieve to insure the fine powder through out. Because the clay was light I added some Venetian red and yellow ochre to get a more classic bole color. I then re-ground the three elements again. I mixed up to a creamy consistency using rabbit skin glue as a binder.
This liquid clay bole was brushed on and will be polished out tomorrow and prepared for gold leaf. .
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#frame #framemaking #goldleaf #woodworking #antiques #gesso #bole #antiquerestoration #design #homedecor #newengland
Two frames that were being were being made this week. The picture of the planes shows the primary tools for shaping the mould. The are not new, but vintage tools that are being restored and improved with each job they’re used on. Mostly more time on the sharpening stones. I’ll be applying a gilt/gold leafed finish to both frames, which will be aged to imitate aged surface. Have a great weekend. .
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#frames #framemaker #framing #woodworking #mouldingplane #furniture #furnituredesign #framedesign #classic #newengland
Some before and afters from the battleship model restoration. The new work was shown in previous post. We replace portal windows, made and painted various missing details and gave an overall light wax. Nice little project that has been fun to have in the shop. No original surface was touched or altered. Only new replacement material was surfaced. Enjoy. ..
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#modelboat #vintagemodel #steamship #restoration #antique #antiquerestoration #paint #oldsurface #homedecor #paintedsurface #newengland #woodwork #design