Mission originals
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I have too much spare time.
This week, I modeled two pieces from "Mission Furniture: How to Make It," by H.H. Windsor. The book contains plans for 40 pieces. Some are classics, like the Morris chair and the settle. Some are quirky, like the wastebasket and the foot warmer. And some are silly, like the davenport with a back that folds down to make a billiard table.
No silliness here. I modeled the "lady's writing desk," a small, slant-front piece that, at 34 in. wide and about 21 in. deep, would fit right into a modern house or apartment. I based the drawer pulls on ones offered by Van Dyke's Restorers, an excellent source for Arts & Crafts hardware.
I also modeled a "table for the den," a round-top table, 37 in. in diameter, with legs set at a slight angle to the stretchers and held in place with wedged tenons. It's another piece that would work well in modern households.
I don't have a good source for a quartersawn oak texture, so flat color will have to do for now.
Let me know what you think.
David Heim
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Nicely detailed. Thanks for the models
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Glad you like them.
Working from plans in old books is always a challenge. They invariably omit key details, like the length of a tenon or the placement of dowels. And, of course, there are always erroneous dimensions to work around. But it wouldn't be any fun if it weren't for those challenges.
dh -
Very nice work David.
Keep it up.
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