Posted 4 years ago
Jeff_Wilson
(1 item)
This Oak desk Came to me with no top. I can not find a makers mark anywhere. The desk is entirely handmade with hand chiseled joints that still show the scribe marks. Each drawer is numbered with chiseled Roman numerals. The pulls are hand carved as well. I sure hope we can figure out a date, maker and style of this beauty.
This piece did not have a top so I built one that I think matches its style .
Show some of those joints you are speaking of. You can replace pictures or just start an additional posting. The Roman Numerals are common even today, especially in custom post and beam construction. An entire house frame is cut out in a big barn and each joint numbered. Then when you get the frame on site you simple match up the numbers on the joints. Kind of like doing a jigsaw puzzle but easier.
Our house was built in 1820 There are Roman Numerals in the beams in the attic!!!!
A framer would come to town and cut and design beams to fit!!! PRE-FAB 200 years ago!!!
Stuff
Stuff - I certainly believe you. The oldest one I ever worked on was 1760's in a little place called Milford, New Hampshire. It even still had the original Indian shutters built into the sides of the windows (like a modern day pocket door).