Posted 5 years ago
HUnwin
(1 item)
I am trying to figure out what circa this is. We've always called it "The Deacon's Bench" and my dad brought it back from a church that was being torn down somewhere west of Boston in the early 70s, I think. It seems to be made of walnut (?) boards, and is held together by blocks underneath with screws. The arms slot into wooden pegs. Anyone have any idea of how old this might be? I've been searching Google and Pinterest and collector's site but this doesn't look like anything at all that I've encountered.
Enlarging that first picture and looking at the pores and grain of the wood I personally don't see walnut or any other hardwood.
It weighs a ton, I'll try taking another few photos, thank you.
I'm not seeing walnut grain in it either, looks like nice (old!) tight-grain pine (or something similar) to me instead. Sorry I also don't really have any valid guess to its age, though it *does* look like it potentially has some to it...? Nice bench anyways, I could imagine something like it being used in an old church, not necessarily as a 'pew' but maybe more in a foyer/narthex/hallway where people might also find themselves wanting to 'sit a spell'...? :-) :-) :-)
I'm not an expert in woods but it appears to me to be oak, likely stained later to simulate walnut? Great look - I would date late 19th, early 20th century.
It could certainly be dark-stained oak, especially if it is overly heavy for its size...? :-)
It is seriously heavy and as I peer through the varnish on the worn seat edge, it makes sense that it could be oak. It is stained v thoroughly, underneath, everyplace I look. I am so appreciating the detective work!