Discover how to make furniture legs in myriad styles – from the classic cabriole leg (with and without a ball & claw foot!) to turned legs on the lathe to tapered legs by hand or by power. Read more
Tag Archives: Charles Bender
In the Shop with Rough Cut Woodworking
Last week, I had an opportunity to sit in on the first “In shop” taping of the second season of Rough Cut Woodworking with Tommy Mac. I was in Boston to write a piece about Tommy and the show for an upcoming issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine (PWM). In fact, PWM contributor, Chuck Bender was … Read more
William & Mary Bookstand Sketchup Model
This is a model of a reproduction of a William and Mary style folding bookstand. Read more
It’s a Secret
Secret drawers and hidden compartments are as much fun to create as they are to discover. By Charles Bender Pages: 54-57 From the November 2009 issue #179 Buy this issue now When I was a teenager, I met a cantankerous old lumber guy. You know the type – a little too disgruntled to actually have … Read more
Carving Spanish Feet
A Delaware Valley foot and a Pennsylvania ring-and-vase turning combine to develop a period-style design. By Charles Bender Pages: 55-57 From the April 2009 issue #175 Buy this issue now Years ago, when I first began my business as a period furniture maker, a close friend and mentor jumped on board to help kick off … Read more
The William & Mary Style
This period ushered in a radical shift in furniture design and construction. By Charles Bender Pages: 46-49 From the April 2010 issue #182 Buy this issue now If you ask most people what they know about period furniture, many will shrug and say something like, “Oh, you mean that Colonial-style furniture.” Most woodworkers tend to … Read more
Arts & Mysteries: Bookstand: A William & Mary Rarity
A maximum skills test using minimal materials.
By Charles Bender
Page: 24-26
From the November 2010 issue # 186
Buy this issue now
Important books have long been a symbol of education and wealth in Western culture since before Gutenberg rolled out his first Bible. Up until the mid-17th century, the fact that someone could read was usually a significant status symbol – and even today, important books often denote elite status. Naturally, if you owned an important book, you wanted a way to display it so everyone could see it. Enter the ever-enterprising cabinetmaker.
After you’ve studied furniture as long as I have, you begin to look for pieces to build that are unique and rare. This bookstand is definitely one rarity worth a second look by any scholar and/or woodworker.
Bookstands are scarce in any period, but William & Mary bookstands are particularly rare. It’s very possible this is because fine book ownership was rare during the period.
The thing that struck me most when I first saw this bookstand was the maker’s sense of style. Whoever made it not only was aware of the latest construction techniques (note that the body of the piece is essentially a dovetailed box instead of a mortise-and-tenon frame), but also had an understanding of William & Mary design. The ball feet and cyma curves of the apron put this piece squarely in the realm of a professional cabinetmaker working in the most fashionable taste.
Video: Think you have dovetails figured out? Watch Frank Klausz work his magic.
Article: Continue with Frank Klausz to learn to master the mortise and tenon.
Web site: Take a detailed and in-depth look at Thomas Jefferson’s bookstand.
To buy: Learn more about William & Mary furniture in our April 2010 issue (#182).
In our store: Pick up a DVD on turning basics to get started in the right direction. Read more