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Category Archives: Sundry Historical Matters
The Finished Finials – finally
We’ve had a project in the shop I’d like to tell you all about. Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Trades Department is working with The Museum of the American Revolution to construct a copy of George Washington’s wartime Headquarters- “The First Oval … Continue reading
On the Trail of William Buckland; the Beginning and the End
Months ago my wife and I planned a trip to Annapolis with some friends, long before the subject of the 2014 Working Wood Symposium was decided. (Before our shop study trip to MESDA, and our trip to Gunston Hall.) We … Continue reading
Buckland and Sears at Gunston Hall
Among the pieces we’ll be featuring in our January Working Wood Symposium is a wonderful sideboard from the MESDA collection at Old Salem in Winston Salem, North Carolina. This table, originally among the furnishings of Mt. Airy, was saved from a … Continue reading
Posted in Shop Happenings, Sundry Historical Matters
2 Comments
Beyond the Standard Rule
Hello everyone: No this is not directly about the spinet keyboard work, although it all relates, as you will see… Just a little followup to one topic I touched on back in January at the Mount Vernon WW conference. Why … Continue reading
Posted in Drawing & Design, Sundry Historical Matters, Tools
4 Comments
Yes, Virginia, There Really Is Sandpaper in 1775
Okay, we would like to settle the perennial question (or statement) we get in the shop: “Since you didn’t have sandpaper…” or “Did they have sandpaper?” or “Was sandpaper available back then?” Answer: Yes, we had it. Proof? Here goes: … Continue reading
Hello Again and Some Rules for Varnishing
First of all, we’re back and we plan on blogging far more regularly this year. Thanks for sticking with us! Secondly: Happy New Year Everyone! …I know that seems belated, but here in the Anthony Hay Shop the new year … Continue reading
Treatise by Sprengel – Part 3
The following is a description of the types of chairs made and their respective parts. It’s interesting that though Sprengel states that the German chairmaker’s trade has been transplanted from London, all the chair types are French. Does this show … Continue reading
Further Info on Spinets
A few months ago we had a question regarding a small book on early English spinet harpsichords. We’ve also had some visitors to the shop desire more info on them. Given that I am banished from my tools to let … Continue reading
Treatise by Sprengel – Part 2
Sprengel’s chapter on the chairmaker’s trade offers the reader some interesting surprises. The following paragraph gives a detailed description of chair caning. This is a process we will soon undertake while reproducing the chinese styled chair pictured below. Sprengel – … Continue reading
An 18th Century German Treatise on the Chairmaker’s Trade
In 1700 almost all of the white inhabitants of British colonial America were English or descended from English immigrants. The total white and black population was only about 250,000. By 1776 this figure had grown to 2.5 million! Contributing to … Continue reading
Anthony Hay's, Cabinetmaker 