I spent today at the research center of the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) on a scouting trip for my upcoming book “The Furniture of Necessity.” MESDA’s research center in Winston Salem, N.C., is an irresistible magnet for this book because of the museum’s “object database.”
This database has 20,000 objects of furniture, metalwork, textiles etc. in it. And you can browse through it to your heart’s content – the research center is free and open to the public (true Southern hospitality).
I pored over the furniture archives today until the research center closed, and I scanned more than 150 photos and datasheets about pieces of furniture that were produced for the middle-class (whatever that is) – or people with austere tastes.
I got some amazing stuff, including some Moravian chairs that are shockingly contemporary. Plus some great stretcher tables, six-board chests, drop-leaf tables and chests of drawers. I’m afraid I can’t show you my scans because they are protected by copyright, but I will attempt to divert your scorn by writing about something else – Jerome Bias!
I got to have lunch with Jerome, a furniture maker and interpreter at Old Salem. Jerome wrote the great story in Popular Woodworking Magazine about Thomas Day and was the guy who introduced me to the research center at MESDA.
When I visited Jerome’s shop at Old Salem he was cleaning out the bottom of an oilstone box he was building using an old woman’s tooth router plane. We had lunch at the local shop of Martin O’Brien, a cabinetmaker, finisher and stone carver.
The barbeque was terrific, of course, but the conversation was even better. Martin does a lot of work on MESDA pieces and had some great insights into traditional finishing that made me stop chewing my food.
So that’s what I did on my summer vacation. And now I have earned a can of Fat Tire.
— Christopher Schwarz
P.S. I did change the title of this blog. Some readers pointed out that using “chicken” in the headline could be misconstrued. Not my intent. Ever. So I just changed it. This is not worth of comment please.
Something about the concept for this book really grabs me. I’m excited to see what you do with it.
I’m also jealous of your barbeque and Fat Tire, but will at least be able to remedy that last shortly.
Las Estrella’s on Silas creek, fish tacos. If you’re still in town tomorrow , lunch or dinner or bourbon is on me my friend.
I spy with my little eye… Two benches!
Those are Moravian workbenches. I wrote about them on my PW blog last year (I think).
they’re interesting. One looks like a robou and the other like a holtz. I like the shop layout.
Huh…Fat Tire comes in cans? That’s almost as amazing as when I found out PBR came in bottles.
The can is a fine vessel for a good beer, as long as the lining doesn’t leach into it. No light to degrade the liquid gold inside.
Wow, that’s amazing! Fat Tire comes in cans?!
Jonathan
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I can’t wait for the Thomas Day article. He is one of my biggest influences.
It’s from a few years back, but it’s free on the pwm web site here: http://www.popularwoodworking.com/interviews/thomas_day
Shakey, I believe that article already came out. not sure of the issue number, but I seem to remember reading it….
That workshop makes me drool! Uber cool! What’s Fat Tire?
A really nice brew put out by New Belgium of Fort Collins, Colorado. They make some great beers like a Trippel and Wheat, all in the style brewed in the monasteries of Belgium. If you are in Norther Colorado, be sure to visit their facility – tours and beers.
Sorry, I got a little excited – I used to live just outside of Fort Collins.
Dont forget the ultimate experiance in beer 1554! I’m just floored that Fat Tire comes in a can though.
Them are some really nicely done folding tables stacked in that archway – perhaps a future “Furniture of Necessity” article?
Nice workshop,Mr. Bias. I am envious of all who get to spend their days doing what they enjoy and educating the unwashed masses, let alone in such nice digs!. The P.C.police in my head (usually in my mother’s voice) mighta picked another title for this entry, but that’s my guilty conscience, not yours. Enjoy the trip!
I met Jerome at the first “Woodcraft Week” at the Woodwright’s School last year — great teacher and thoughtful fellow, and he had a nifty knockdown workbench that he brought to Roy’s. Have you seen his workbench, and what did you think?
The opening photo draws you in. Nice. I’m sure the book will be nicely photographed too.
Chris: His mallet makes yours look like a peening hammer!