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William Niver
17 posts
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in over 4 years
in over 4 years
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G. Stickley Letterbox Writing Desk
This is a Gustav Stickley Two Drawer Letterbox Writing Table, Model No. 708, 1905 Catalog, Eastwood, NY, reproduced in 1/12 scale, by my hand, 1 of 1. Also known as a “postcard desk”, the piece measures 3" H, 3 5/16" W, and 1 3/4" D and features functional drawers with drawer stops, a lower broad half shelf for storage, two letter boxes, and artisan-created iconic Stickley V-pulls. Construction consists of 75 pieces of basswood and 12 “hidden” mortice and tenon joints. Side and back slats are unglued tongue and groove secured as per original to allow for weather-induced expansion and contraction. Finished in three applications of Fruitwood gel stain, three coats of satin acrylic lacquer, aged and dirtied up with Dark Coffee antiquing wax.
"I see," said the blind man, as he picked up his hammer and saw.
9 Comments
"I see," said the blind man, as he picked up his hammer and saw.
"I see," said the blind man, as he picked up his hammer and saw.
More great details! How do you make the hardware?
L/W
“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” Benjamin Franklin
Another beautiful piece. the detail is wonderful.
Anna
Thank you, Anna and L/W, for your kind words and encouragement. I know of one on-line source for scaled, miniature Stickley hardware, but the cost for two pulls would have exceeded by far my entire outlay for all other materials combined, so I passed and made the little buggers my own bad self using wire from a brass-colored safety pin. I shaped them with teeny pliers and arthritic hands and then squeezed the metal repeatedly to flatten it and create (I hoped) a passable look of worked hardware. The backing “plates” are just painted wood scraps, and I secured the pulls by drilling 0.5 mm holes with my trusty pin vise. To most normal people, my obsession with such details is a sure sign of madness. But some people — like you – actually notice, and, thus, my day is made! Thanks. -. Bill
"I see," said the blind man, as he picked up his hammer and saw.
Bill,
The “homemade” hardware looks spot-on!
L/W
“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” Benjamin Franklin
working 1/12 scale has to be challenging,nice work.
Thanks, Jim. It is all a question of perspective. To me, the creation of real furniture seems a task of monumental challenge which I would surely botch, no doubt losing a finger or three in the process. Then again, full-sized woodworkers probably don’t run the risk that I do of destroying dozens of hours of work merely by sitting on their projects….
"I see," said the blind man, as he picked up his hammer and saw.
Super job hard to believe it’s 1/12 scale.
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