I’m headed to Virginia this weekend for a few days at Colonial Williamsburg where I’ll be studying, measuring and taking careful notes on all the details of a late 18th/early 19th-century Virginia blanket chest in the CW collection – a chest I’ll be replicating for the 27th Annual Working Wood in the 18th Century Conference, Jan. 23-26, 2025.
The 2025 Conference theme is “To Furnish a Town: High, Low, and In-Between.” At a glance – and that’s all I’ve had so far – I think this chest part of the “in between.” While it’s not a fancy piece, it likely wasn’t made for the least fortunate. I’ll use it as a stepping off point to discuss dovetails (surprise), blanket chests and painted furniture…and will discuss my presentations in more detail when I have more detail. The most difficult thing (other than standing on a stage and speaking to an audience) will, I think, be finding air-dried yellow pine boards wide enough to replicate this piece, which has overall dimensions of 22-5/8″ x 45- 1/2″ x 17-7/8″ – and I might not be able to (in which case I’ll call it a reproduction rather than a replica).
High-style work will be represented by renowned cabinetmaker and teacher Steve Brown, who will present the build of a Virginia cabriole leg dressing table, discussing its design and construction, as well as its relationship to New England examples. And by CW cabinetmakers Bill Pavlak and John Peeler who will trace the evolution of style and construction through the lens of fall-front desks and a drop-leaf dining tables (if you follow Bill and John on Instagram, you’ve seen some of what they’re working on for the conference…at least that’s my guess! And it’s making me anxious, as I’m itching to get working, too!).
Also presenting are CW joiners Brian Weldy and Ayinde Martin, who will demonstrate the sophisticated greenwood turning and joinery techniques from seemingly humble forms, and carpenter Matt Sanbury and others will show how logs were turned into lumber.
You can read more about the 27th Annual Working Wood in the 18th Century Conference and register (for in-person or virtual attendance) at the conference website.
– Fitz
