furniture-msg - 2/28/05
Making chests and tables for the SCA. Period furniture. References.
NOTE: See also the files: chairs-msg, beds-msg, chests-msg, wood-msg, woodworking-msg, tools-msg, wood-bending-msg, wood-finishes-msg, caskets-boxes-bib.
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NOTICE -
This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.
This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org
I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter.
The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make no claims as to the accuracy of the information given by the individual authors.
Please respect the time and efforts of those who have written these messages. The copyright status of these messages is unclear at this time. If information is published from these messages, please give credit to the originator(s).
Thank you,
Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous
Stefan at florilegium.org
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From: Tim Bray/C. Keegan (4/25/94)
To: Mark Harris
RE>Oak Furniture Book
You asked for the adress of the Antique Collectors Club, publisher of the
Oak Furniture book. The address was included in my original post:
d - Oak Funiture: The British Tradition (Victor Chinnery, 1979,
> >reprinted 1993, ISBN 1 85149 013 2 published by Antique Collector's Club
> >Ltd, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1DS UK -
That's a U.K. address. I bought the book in England, so am not sure how
much it will cost to order from the States. It's a very thick, heavy
book, printed on really good paper, with lots of b&w photos... in other
words, it's expensive! Most of the book actually deals more with 17th
century furniture and furniture-making (guilds, etc.) than our period,
but there is still much useful info.
Colin
From: David Mann (4/17/95)
To: Mark Harris
Re[2]: Tournaments Illuminated #113 -- review
Hello Stefan,
I'll send you a gif or tif picture as soon as I can. Of our 2
scanners, one is broken and the other is out on loan. As for a book,
Master Edward d'Orleans recommends "History of Italian Furniture",
volumes 1 & 2 by William M. Odom. He says if you can find a copy at a
reasonable price get it! There were 2 editions to the book, 1912 &
1966. I agree with him, this is one of the best books around on
Italian furniture. Oh, the price normally for a copy is around 700-800
dollars for the 1912 edition. Fortunating, OSU has both editions in
the library.
Marke
======================================================================
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Celt Tents Info
From: mike.boelter at rodent.isdn.net (Mike Boelter)
Date: Sat, 03 Jun 1995 10:19:00 -0600
to re hash what has been posted before this good gentle is
looking for info on Scottish tents 10th to 12th century with proper
furniture etc.
The Chairs you are looking for were featured in a woodworking
magazine some years ago. Name of Magazine was Fine Woodworking or
similar. If no one remembers the article one could always write to the
magazines of that sort asking if they have an article on same.
Rope beds, or Vikin style fit together and peg together beds
are fairly easy to accomplish. I cheat and use an inflatable Air
Mattress in mine. Source books were The Vikings by Time Life (coffee
table size book) and Osbourne childrens books Time Traveler series on
The Viking Raiders. Simple pictures and fairly good detail.
For a rope frame do not drill holes in the sides or use eye
bolts unless you are really into lacing a couple hundred feet of rope at
every event. I found some utility hooks called goat horns or if you
have access to telephone company supplies Hook, drop, wire is what you
are looking for.
Actually I have dispensed with the ropes altogether, and on the
inside of the bed frame I have put 2x2s and then use plywood. Unless
the authenticity police crawle under the bed who will know. If you want
to feel really virtuous you could modify the plywood sheeting so that
it could be used as an emergency backboard (handholds and such were cut
out of it to facilitate emerngency use) which is what I did when I make
a Viking bed for a chireugeon.
This should be of some help. and hopefully you will be able to
make sense of my ramblings.
I remain, Sir Starhelm Warlocke KbSCA.
From: alysk at ix.netcom.com (Elise Fleming )
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Source for Eliza. Furniture
Date: 24 Oct 1995 00:31:30 GMT
For pictures of "period" furniture you might try looking in the
library. There is a book entitled _World Furniture_, edited by Noel
Riley, 1989 edition published by Chartwell Books, originally published
in 1980 by Octopus Books. ISBN number is 1-55521-477-0. It is divided
by country and shows numerous examples of furniture throughout the
country's history. There is some history of the development of
furniture in each country. I would assume there are more books out
there in libraries which might be helpful if one wanted to build one's
own furniture.
Alys Katharine
From: "Jeffrey L. Singman" <jsingman at umich.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Source for Eliza. Furniture
Date: 24 Oct 1995 14:05:28 GMT
Organization: University of Michigan
Hi! One place to look would be the Trayn'd Bandes of London World Wide
Web site--there are a couple of references and connections to suppliers
there (look under 're-enactment contacts' and under 'sources and
resources' on the main page). The resources page also lists some good
books on Eliz. furniture. In addition, my wife and I have been working
to accumulate the names of other good furniture makers. Repro. furniture
tends to be a bit expensive in North America (it can be had much cheaper
in England); however, it is quite easy to make Eliz. furniture, at least
the simpler designs (drop by some time and we can show you two pieces I
made myself). Sometimes used-goods places will have pieces which could
pass for Elizabethan too, depending on how accurate you need it to be!
http://www.rmc.ca/~nusbache/bandes.html
Cheers, JLS
From: excmairi at aol.com (EXCMairi)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Patterns / Plans for furniture.
Date: 17 Oct 1996 08:31:44 -0400
Stackpole Books (the people who do Osprey series) are publishing a new
book, due out in January, titled "Constructing Medieval Furniture" by
Daniel Diehl, ISBN #0811727955. We called them as soon as we found a
reference to it and they said it would be out in January, listed in their
December catalog. Their phone # is 1-800-732-3669. Stackpole Books, 5067
Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055.
Baroness Mairi.
From: Gretchen M Beck <grm+ at andrew.cmu.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Patterns / Plans for furniture.
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 1996 13:03:31 -0400
Organization: Computer Operations, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Excerpts from netnews.rec.org.sca: 17-Oct-96 Re: Patterns / Plans for
fu.. by EXCMairi at aol.com
> Stackpole Books (the people who do Osprey series) are publishing a new
> book, due out in January, titled "Constructing Medieval Furniture" by
> Daniel Diehl, ISBN #0811727955. We called them as soon as we found a
> reference to it and they said it would be out in January, listed in their
> December catalog. Their phone # is 1-800-732-3669. Stackpole Books, 5067
> Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055.
I should point out that Daniel Diehl is also Lord Frederich von
Schwartzberg, currently of York, England, late of the Barony Marche of
the Debatable Lands. I believe this may be the book that competed at
Ice Dragon.
toodles, margaret
From: bbrisbane at aol.com (BBrisbane)
To: bryn-gwlad at eden.com
Date: 28 Jan 1997 06:38:59 GMT
Subject: MEDIEVAL FURNITURE BOOK -- Revised, with WEB address.
I want everyone to know about a new book that has been published, and I
hope many will find of great use and wish to possess.
CONSTRUCTING MEDIEVAL FURNITURE; Plans and Instructions, with Historical
Notes by Dan Diehl, aka Captain/Abbot Frederick von Schwartzbourg.
This wonderful book specifically discusses the constuction of medieval
furniture as found in Castles, Abbeys, and Monasteries. Dan Diehl has 25
years of experience making cabinetry and working as a restoration Artist.
He has traveled to England three times over two years to research the
pieces for this book, specifically chosing pieces, where possible, that
are still within the environments they were originally created for. He
photographed each piece and took very careful measurements of all
dimensions and details, which he then recreated into an understandable
translation of their construction. This text is an original work without
precedence, and is realistically a secondary reference resource (a primary
reference work being Dan's personal examination of the pieces, but we'd
have to BE Dan).
The book begins with three chapters that tell you what you need to know in
order to complete the furniture projects. The First chapter addresses
woodworking, the Second concerns metalworking, and the Third chapter
discusses finishes and surface treatments. Each of the remaining chapters
is an examination of a single piece of furniture: A photo of the original,
a description of the construction and history of the piece, a chart which
outlines how many parts you need to create the particular project, along
with specific dimensions. Each chapter concludes with detailed elevations
of the chapter's subject with all dimensions marked, and detail works
examined (such as dimensions of hardware pieces). Where applicable any
carvings from the originals have been recreated in detailed line drawings
for addition to the furniture projects. The furniture pieces progress
from simple to more difficult as you advance through the chapters.
The book is 180 pages in 19 chapters, paperback, and costs $19.95 (U.S.
funds) and $4.00 shipping and handling charges, for a total of $23.95. PA
residents add 6% PA sales tax. The publisher is Stackpole Books, ISBN
O-8117-2795-5.
Cheques or Money Orders ONLY. I'm sorry, but at this time I am not set
up to accept credit cards. Make your cheque or money order payable to
Robert Rich.
You can also go to Dan Diehl's WEBSITE at :
( http://users.aol.com/bbrisbane/ ) for further information.
So why am I selling these?? Dan is a very good friend of mine and I'm
doing this as a special favor to him because he is not here to market them
himself. I get the books directly through the author, and so every book
sold through me is profit in Dan's pocket rather than in the retailer's.
Afterall, he did do all the research and leg-work. Dan Diehl currently
resides in York, England where he writes, and has plans to publish a
second work on Medieval Furniture in the future.
Constructing Medieval Furniture, by Dan Diehl, can also be purchased
through my merchanting business, Brendan's Banners. You can find me at
Estrella War, AEthelmearc Crown Tourney, Pennsic XXVI, and AEthelmearc
Coronation to name a few.
If you are interested in placing an order . . . . . .
Send Checks or Money orders to:
Korby Art Studios, c/o Bob Rich, 1211 Logan Avenue, Tyrone PA 16686,
(again, made payable to Robert Rich)
EUROPEAN ORDERS: write to,
Oxbow Books
Park End Place
OX1 1HN
England
Oxbow at patrol.i-way.co.uk
+44-1865-241249 Phone
+44-1865-794449 Fax
Master Brendan Brisbane
From: Medievalbk at aol.com
To: Mark Harris
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 20:39:31 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: NEW BOOK -- Medieval Fu
<< I was just replying to the original poster refuting
the claims that he made about being the only one who
had it for sale. >>
There were so many snips I couldn't tell who was what.
furniture books are mixed in with woodworking on the web page. I've listed
both what I have and what I can get through Interloc.
http://www.interloc.com/~medieval
I only have the title fragments 'medieval wood' and 'medieval furn' on
search. I do know that the best history of furniture books were printed in
France, and the next time I get to the LA collector's library I'm going to
start taking down titles.
Furniture listings are mostly Dover misc. I need the bibliography from the
new book.
1. Sotheby's: EUROPEAN WORKS OF ART, ARMS AND
ARMOUR, FURNITURE AND TAPESTRIES, New, illus.,
Auction catalog #6388; Everything in armour:
helms, suits, gauntlets, equestrian, shields.
Items from MET. ............$7.00 CAT No. 960
2. International Exhibitions Foundation:
PORTUGAL AND THE EAST THROUGH EMBROIDERY, New,
remain., pub: I. E. F. 1981, 40pp., illus.,
16th to 18th Century Coverlets from the Museu
Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon. (Some
furniture as well.) ........$2.50 CAT No. 994
3. Watson, Sir Francis: HISTORY OF FURNITURE,
Remainder, pub: Black Cat 1990, 320pp.,
illus., Ancient and medieval are the first
chapter. .................$15.95 CAT No. 1722
4. Sotheby's: EUROPEAN WORKS OF ART, ARMS AND
ARMOUR, FURNITURE AND TAPESTRIES, New, illus.,
Auction catalog #5717; No armour, weapons,
swords, 17th c. crossbow. .$7.00 CAT No. 1736
5. Hart, Harold H.: CHAIRS THROUGH THE AGES, New,
PB, pub: Dover 144pp., Over 500
copyright-free illus. of chairs over a 3000
year period. ..............$8.95 CAT No. 2157
6. Salomonsky, Vera C.: MASTERPIECES OF
FURNITURE IN PHOTOGRAPHS AND MEASURED
DRAWINGS, New, PB, pub: Dover 212pp., 102
authentic museum pieces, 16th through 19th
century. Measurements detailed enough for
reproduction. .............$8.95 CAT No. 2190
7. Hurrell, John Weymouth: MEASURED DRAWINGS OF
OLD ENGLISH OAK FURNITURE, New, PB, pub:
Dover 110pp., 110 b/w plates, Best of 17th
and 18th century English oak furniture,
interior woodworking, and constructive
detail. ...................$7.95 CAT No. 2191
8. Ecke, Gustav: CHINESE DOMESTIC FURNITURE IN
PHOTOGRAPHS AND MEASURED DRAWINGS, New, PB,
pub: Dover 224pp., 161 illus., From early
Shang to late Ming. ......$13.95 CAT No. 2272
9. Katz, Sali: HISPANIC FURNITURE - AN AMERICAN
COLLECTION FROM THE SOUTHWEST, New, pub. at
$34.95, pub: Kampmann 1986, 224pp., 286
pieces illus., More than 290 photographs and
line drawings. Technical descriptions. .$18.00
CAT No. 2318
10. Sotheby's: EUROPEAN WORKS OF ART, ARMS AND
ARMOUR, FURNITURE AND TAPESTRIES, New, illus.,
Auction catalog #6266; Everything in armour:
helms, suits, gauntlets, equestrian. ...$7.00
CAT No. 2715
11. Ramsey, L. G. G., ed.: ANTIQUE ENGLISH
FURNITURE, Used, good, pub: E. P. Dutton New
York, 1961, 192pp., 64 pages of photo +
illus., From Tudor to early Victorian. .$7.00
CAT No. 2893
From: odlin at reed.edu (Iain Odlin)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: "Constructing Medieval Furniture"
Date: 11 Feb 1997 09:12:23 GMT
I purchased a copy of the new book (much touted by one seller here on
the Rialto) "Constructing Medieval Furniture" by Daniel Diehl a few weeks
ago in the hope that it would be the answer to my medieval furniture
prayers. To some degree, it was; the pieces depicted (and -- more im-
portantly -- measured!) are mostly originals, and the "How to build it"
instructions are sufficient to the purpose.
But I am saddened by the apparent lack of scholarship that went into this
book's creation. I quote the fifth paragraph of the Introduction: "Though
there is an endless flood of books on various aspects of life in the
Middle Ages, there has not, to my knowledge, been anything written on the
most visible surviving remnants of domestic life of the period -- household
furniture." When I read this passage, my hopes -- and with them, my ex-
pectations -- withered, for there on a bookshelf not four feet away from
me sat Mercer's "Furniture 700 - 1700", Thornton's "The Italian Renaissance
Interior" (which, despite its title, has much to offer on Medieval
furnishings as well), Jenning's "Early Chests in Wood and Iron", photocopies
from the magnificent "Oak Furniture" bu Victor Chinnery, and a few
museum catalogs (most notably, the Cluny's), every one of them a testament
to a lack of basic research for the book in my hands.
Predictably enough, the book has no Bibliography and none of its few
'historical notes' are referenced in any way. The construction notes are
complete enough to be useful, but the book as a whole is extremely short
on detail of any kind (most of the historical information is presented as
a quick sentence or two in the form: "This is an <X>, which was used thus
and made of this. The <X>'s [condition/usage] probably indicates <Y>.")
and is very threadbare, making it an amazingly quick read.
As a pattern book, "Constructing Medieval Furniture" does very well, but
in all other ways, it -- unfortunately -- falls far short of the mark.
-Iain Odlin, odlin at reed.edu
From: powers at colon.cis.ohio-state.edu (william thomas powers)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: "Constructing Medieval Furniture"
Date: 11 Feb 1997 10:32:07 -0500
Organization: The Ohio State University, Department of Computer and Information Science
"Constructing Medieval Furniture" by Daniel Diehl
I too purchased this book due to its mention on the Rialto. I got what I
pretty much expected---not what was claimed. This is a nice book on a very
general level written for a wide audience. As such it will fairly painlessly
walk you through the construction of several pieces of furniture dated, (and
documented) to the medieval period. (though not to the early medieval period:
as dated in their pictures 1 13th cent, 6 14th cent, 6 15th cent and 2 16th
cent and the wall hanging.).
As such I was pleased that the projects covered a range of items--including
a wall