Popular Woodworking 2005-02 № 146, страница 71

HARVEY ELLIS

BOOKCASE

A faithful reproduction of the epitome of Arts & Crafts design.

Gustav Stickley once wrote that the best way to learn furniture design was to build a proven design. He wrote that the student "learns from the start the fundamental principles of design and proportion and so comes naturally to understand what is meant by thorough workmanship." This bookcase is one of the finest examples of proportion and detail that make the Craftsman style more than just a simple piece of furniture.

In 1903 Harvey Ellis designed this glass-door bookcase while working as a de signer for Stickley. The first time I saw an original example of this piece of furniture I was struck by how perfectly proportioned it was and how well all of the details combine.

These details also present some challenges in building. While this is a relatively simple piece, the joinery must be pre

cisely executed. Before I began, I spent some time tuning up our table saw and jointer, made sure my squares and measuring tools were in order, and sharpened my chisels and planes.

True to the Original

Original Craftsman furniture was occasionally made in mahogany or figured maple, but the vast majority was made from quarter-sawn white oak. This method of sawing yields more stable material than plain sawn oak, and the distinctive rays can be absolutely stunning. White oak is much more of a furniture wood than red oak, giving a smoother and more refined appearance.

In addition to using this wood, I also decided to use the same method of finishing that was originally used, fuming the finished piece with ammonia, and using shellac followed by wax.

by Robert W. Lang

Tannic acid in the wood reacts with the fumes from the ammonia, yielding a distinctive coloration in the rays and flecks, as well as in the rest of the wood. Staining, glazing and dyeing can come close to the color of an original Stickley piece, but fuming can match it exactly.

I had to glue stock together to obtain the widths required. Because the final color was dependant on a chemical reaction, and the tannic acid content of white oak will vary from tree to tree and board to board, I was careful to match boards for color as well as for figure. I also cut most of the parts for the door from the same piece of wood so that the color would be as close as possible.

Mortising With a Template

I began the joinery work with the through mortise-and-tenon joints at the bottom of the case sides. I

Plans for this and other S tickley projects are featured in Bob's book "Shop Drawings for Craftsman Furniture" (Cambium Books). You can purchase the book by calling 800-238-7724 or visiting cambiumbooks.com. Comments or questions? Contact Bob at 513-531-2690 ext. 1327 or robert.lang@fwpubs.com.

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