Michael Stiennon

The bureau is based on the Edmund Townsend example at the RIT.  I used a drawing from Pete Michelinie.  As he suggested it is 2 inches shallower and uses a separate base.  The feet are full blind dovetailed, the base frame miters were hide glued with horizontal splines.  There is a reinforcing plate under the kneehole miters.  Glue blocks, including stacked inside corner blocks, secure the feet and reinforce the frame.  I have built many bookshelves with cockbead on frame and I used the same construction method here.  The cockbeads on the front edges of the dovetailed case are planed from the sides rather than applied.  A post on the forum describes how I make the stretchers and fit the blades. Newport Blockfront Bureau - Flush Front | Society of American Period Furniture Makers - Forums I actually started with the shells, carving more than a dozen convex and half that many concave.  By number 7 or 8 I was getting acceptable results and had gotten my time down to 8 to 9 hours.  No sandpaper was used in its construction.  Surfaces are planed, scraped and burnished with polisseurs.  The cherry is finished with super blond shellac.  One coat brushed on then one coat padded.  The drawer sides are curly maple, the drawer bottoms clear pine.  The artist recipient plans a granite top so he can grind his own colors.  The piece should have an interesting patina in a few years.