Going the extra mile with the project of your dreams.

            I bought a book last year where a period furniture maker analyzed the same pieces from different makers in different time periods.  From his study he gave each piece a good, better, best rating based upon criteria he listed.

            Since reading his book I have found it impossible not to apply the same principles to each piece I build. 

            I enjoyed reading about the process because I had also recently went through the same process while making a Queen Anne highboy out of birdseye maple.  When I looked at the moldings and measured how much they took up of the top case I became convinced a secret drawer was essential to the project.

            Here is how I did mine:

            I took the top shiplapped panel off the back and put my cut nails into the case as on the previous back pieces (photo).  Then, I clipped each nail off on the inside.  Next I measured the space above the top cleat to the top panel.  It was almost 3”, so I decided 2” would leave me enough space for documents or jewelry to be hidden within.  I cut box joints on the corners, and then inserted a panel to match the bottom of each of the drawers below so the casual observer would think it was an additional dust panel. 

            The drawer is accessed by pulling out the top drawer and reaching up and under the top drawer cleat to two small recesses I made for the thumbs. (photo)  You simply remove the top back shiplapped piece (held in place by magnets), and push the secret drawer back with your thumbs.J

            I next looked at making the piece move from better to best again.  Since my proportions were decided and done I decided to make what some would call a defect into something I would call beautiful.  I located 3 blemishes in the maple case that were two small bark defects, and one dent that occurred somewhere in the process (It takes a long time to build a highboy).  I judged the dent too deep to fill with clear shellac, and decided it had to go. 

            I came up with the idea of the butterfly inlay from a piece I have made by Paul Schurch.  Paul makes every piece special with some form of inlay in his marquetry, and I liked the idea of someone knowing it was my piece by something I did special in my own work.

            I decided on a butterfly because it didn’t have too much detail, and I could size it to match any defect easily.  To make it more interesting and give the butterflies life I made them each different.  One is solid mother of pearl, one is silver/ebony/and abalone, and the smallest is ebony/mother of pearl.  The curved small butterfly on the coved molding was the hardest.  I cut a 3/16 hole and made the butterfly ¼ inch thick to start.  I then scraped until it was flush with the coved molding.  The two butterflies on the side of the case were just carefully cut out and recessed in followed by some judicious scraping.

            To me my furniture is all in the details.  You can always reach me at my dental office during the week at 712-548-4615 or at my email browerj@frontiernet.net