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Chuck Bender is the author of “Carving Spanish Feet” in the current issue of Popular Woodworking magazine and has a couple additional articles forthcoming. He was also the subject of an interview on the latest podcast on Wood Talk Online (listen to episode 50 here).
This is one of seven bookcases I have in my home filled with books on period furniture and furnishings and a few other things. Several bookcases house the collection of books that are for use in the shop while a few others house books that are so scarce that they should be nowhere near sawdust.
On the shop bookcases is a complete run of The Magazine Antiques as well as several other “collector” related magazine. There are even a few nearly complete runs of a few woodworking magazines. Although I wrote a blog post describing my top five books for those who love period furniture (click here to read that post), the question put to me for this endeavor was specifically my favorites. Because someone requested it in David Thiel’s original blog post, I’ve tried to put them in bibliographic form and I’ve listed them in my order of importance.
Nutting, Wallace, Furniture Treasury, 3 Vols. Framingham, Mass.: Old America Company, 1928. This massive collection has something for everyone. With more than 5,000 illustrations, you can’t find better training for your eye.
Hipkiss, Edwin J., Eighteenth Century American Arts: The M & M Karolik Collection, Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 1941. An awesome record of this amazing collection housed in the Boston Museum of Fine Art.
Griffith, Lee Ellen, The Pennsylvania Spice Box, West Chester, PA: The Chester County Historical Society, 1986. Who doesn’t like spice boxes?
Lindsey, Jack L., Worldly Goods, Philadelphia, PA: The Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1999. This is a great catalog of an unprecedented exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Nakashima, George, The Soul of a Tree, New York, NY: Kodansha, 1981. Sure, it’s not period furniture but it is George Nakashima. Graceful, simple furniture forms constructed impeccably. What else could a craftsman want?
Hornor, William MacPherson, Jr., Blue Book, Philadelphia Furniture, Philadelphia, PA: By the author, 1935. This book is filled with pictures and info about the furniture of the center of furniture making in the Colonies. It’s divided up by style rather than the usual museum book template dividing things up by furniture type.
Loan Exhibition of Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Century Furniture & Glass…¦For the Benefit of the National Council of Girl Scouts, Inc., New York, NY: American Art Galleries, 1929. This is a very cool catalog of a very early loan exhibit. While everything that was part of the exhibit isn’t photographed, the pieces that are make this catalog indispensable.
– Charles Bender, Acanthus.com
Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.
I could say that the bookshelf is a classic one and the style it’s appropriate for the space. Good job!
Kari (VC),
I’m currently looking for several copies. I’ll see what I can come do. Since you posted the comment three times, I guess you REALLY want the book so I’ll do my best to see if I can find one.
And, out of space, is really what my bookcase looks like. Otherwise, I’d NEVER have books lying on their sides on top of other books. It’s enough to make an antiquarian book collector/dealer ill. 🙂
Chuck, I’ve looked for The Pennsylvania Spice Box and can’t find it for anything less than $200. Do you have any leads??
P.S. Your bookshelf is way too tidy. ; )
Chuck, I’ve looked for The Pennsylvania Spice Box and can’t find it for anything less than $200. Do you have any leads??
Chuck, I’ve looked for The Pennsylvania Spice Box and can’t find it for anything less than $200. Do you have any leads??